According to the American Psychological Association’s recent Work and Well-Being Survey, one in four American workers do not trust their employer. With a recession full of workforce reduction and lay-offs in the not-so-distant past, employees are having trouble forgetting the stress placed on the employer-employee relationship despite a job market that is currently improving.
With over a quarter of America’s workforce currently seeking other employment opportunities, it is important to know what causes stress in your employees as a leader.
Below are the most cited examples of the things the American workforce said caused their work-related stress and ideas on how to avoid them.
- Lack of opportunity to grow and develop in their career. Always try to give employees the opportunity to develop and grow within their career niche. Provide opportunities through continued education and training.
- A lack of communication on expectations. Not knowing what is expected of them within their role can lead to employees becoming frustrated and discouraged, feeling as though their work is not sufficient. Make the expectations and goals you have for your employees clear and concise from the get go.
- Non-competitive salaries. It is hard to feel motivated within a position if you feel undervalued due to the low salary you are being compensated. If your budget allows it, offer competitive salaries. To find what is competitive in terms of salaries for specific positions, visit websites like Salary.com and Glassdoor.com to learn more.
- A lack of job security. Nothing is more stressful for an employee than being uncertain about the future security of their position. Be open and honest with employees on the direction and success of the company to keep the lines of communication open.
Help maintain the trust between you and your employees by avoiding the above mistakes and keeping your employees’ stress levels to a minimum.