1

Stress Prevention Program for the Workforce

Jamie L. Glasgow

Purdue University Global

HW410 Stress: Critical Issues in Management and Prevention

Dr. Dorette Nysewander

June 22, 2021

Stress Prevention Program for the Workforce

Stress among employees in the workforce proves to be costly and the management of

such has significant room for improvement. According to research compiled by Eastern

Kentucky University, “Companies spend $300 billion annually for health care and missed

workdays as a result of workplace stress” (EKU, 2020).

Forty percent of employees reported that their job was either “very stressful” or

“extremely stressful” and twenty five percent of those surveyed claimed that the job not only

caused stress, but it was actually their number one stressor. (EKU, 2020) With employers losing

so much money due to this issue, it is time that companies lean into programs that keep

employees happier and healthier physically and mentally. Other stressors can include difficulties

with being a parent, a spouse, caring for elderly family members, having chronic health

conditions themselves, an overloaded schedule, being a manager and overseeing subordinates,

other relationship strains such as friends, poor self-image and even caring for pets.

Because stress level is a subjective measure, patients are often given self-reported

surveys to gauge where they fall on the severity of their stress. Medications may be given for

anxiety or depression that comes along with stress but there are a multitude of other physical

symptoms that can manifest from stress. These can include high blood pressure, headaches,

exhaustion or insomnia, stomach and digestive problems, a weakened immune system and so

much more (Cleveland Clinic, 2021)

Stress does not discriminate. People from all walks of life have this burden to bear so it is

of great importance that we try to minimize its effects from both a wellness and cost perspective.

To do this, we need to build a program customized to an employer group that can help to stop the

problem where it starts, at the workplace.

This program starts by the company hiring a full-time health coach that can be

exclusively used by their employees. By having a health coach on staff at the work site or near

the site, employees can use this service during the day. This reduces the amount of time that an

employee will need to take off which results in less money lost by the company whether that

person is using paid time off or getting it unpaid, in most cases, the employer still has to cover

that person’s time away from the job.

Health coaching has plenty of benefits that can be customized to the client for maximum

satisfaction. Dr. Peter Grinspoon with Harvard Medical School describes what health coaches are

used for. “People tend to hire health coaches to help them with a broad variety of health issues,

such as weight loss, stress reduction, the management of chronic conditions, improving diet and

exercise, tobacco cessation, addiction, and adjusting to a life-altering health event, like a heart

attack.” (Grinspoon, 2020). The positive affect that health coaching could potentially have on a

company is worth considering a plan like this one.

For this particular health coaching program, the focus consists of three different areas.

First with mental health, then with spiritual health and finishing with physical health. Ideally, the

health coach would start by discussing the goals of the client and identifying their specific

stressors. The two would discuss the origin of their stress. By doing this and combing through

their daily schedules and habits it allows the coach to determine if and where lifestyle changes

can be made, or other strategies can be incorporated.

Once the client’s lifestyle has been analyzed, the health coach can then create a

customized plan. This plan can be adjusted to their needs. Perhaps the client has an adequate

physical exercise routine already but lacks support with mental and spiritual health. This client’s

program can spend less time on the physical aspects and more time on the others.
 4

If the health coach is hired directly by the employer, the health coach should work with

the benefits department in learning the benefits offered to the employees such as what is included

in their health plan as well as outside resources like EAP’s, or Employee Assistance Programs.

EAP’s are programs that offer different types of aid ranging from mental health counseling,

finding childcare, free consultation with lawyers, financial education and so many more that are

often underutilized (ESI, 2021).

Along with the employer benefits that can be taken advantage of, the health coach is

trained to use different techniques than other medical professionals like motivational

interviewing. This technique makes the client feel in control of their future, as opposed to

someone like a doctor just telling them what to do (Grinspoon, 2020). Many health coaches are

also trained in guided meditation and diaphragmatic breathing as well yoga, tai chi, and other

relaxation techniques.

Once a plan has been solidified to integrate these practices into the client’s daily life, we

can begin to look at spiritual health. When talking to the client, the health coach can inquire

about the person’s faith and beliefs and discuss ways that these things can be incorporated. The

coach can suggest church groups to add support to the client or perhaps propose joining a group

that has similar interests as the person to improve spiritual health.

The last step in the program is to examine the employee’s current physical activity

program and detect where improvements or changes could be made. This may require the

employee to keep a detailed schedule of their daily activities. When this is done, the coach can

go over this with them and pinpoint the areas in their lives that physical exercise or even simply

some yoga stretches could be done.

Yoga alone has been proven to improve fitness and aid in stress reduction. According to

Mayo Clinic, “A number of studies have shown that yoga may help reduce stress and anxiety.

Yoga can enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being. Yoga might also help you manage

your symptoms of depression and anxiety that are due to difficult situations.” (Mayo Clinic,

2020).

To implement this program, I would like to propose the hiring of a full-time, forty hours

per week, health coach. According to Salary.com, an average salary for a health coach in Indiana

is $58,000 per year. If approved financially, the health coach would be available to all employees

(Salary.com, 2019). This health coach can also offer education sessions when he or she is not

booked with appointments.

At the beginning of the very first visit with each employee that registers, self-reported

surveys will be completed and again, every four weeks after that. At the end of the coach’s first

year, the results of these surveys and where they fall will be analyzed. If at the end of that year,

the program has been deemed ineffective, another program will be considered.

Several obstacles are possible when starting a wellness program like this. First, the

employer must approve the cost of hiring a health coach. If this is approved by the company’s

finance department, the next step would consist of finding a health coach that the company likes

and aligns with in their practice.

Another possible barrier would be if the health coach were poorly utilized. Low

utilization tells the employer that this program was not well received amongst their employee

population. If this happens, the employer can choose to implement an incentive. This could be

entering to win a gift card if an appointment is made or perhaps a reduction on their insurance

premium for the following year.

Apart from these obstacles, there will also need to be a space available for employees to

meet with the health coach. If a space is available on-site, this is ideal however, if it is not there

could be some online meeting platforms that could be used. If it is a video chat with the health

coach, many platforms need to be secure. With secure systems like this, there is usually a cost

associated. If cost is non-negotiable for the employer group, phone calls could be used but may

not be as effective as a face-to-face meeting.

Another resource option would be a registered nurse. Many nurses can educate patients

regarding their physical and mental health and point them in the appropriate direction to find

additional, more specialized help if needed. They are also able to work with them to manage

their chronic conditions as well.

Overall, having a health coach on staff could prove to be beneficial for staff and could

even be used by upper management. The benefits of this could trickle down to their subordinates.

If their boss is less stressed, chances are they will not project as much stress onto their

employees.
 7

References

Cleveland Clinic. (2021, January 28). Stress: Signs, symptoms, management &

prevention. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress

EKU. (2020, July 20). Work related stress on employees health. EKU

Online. https://safetymanagement.eku.edu/blog/work-related-stress-on-employees-health/

ESI. (2021, May 12). ESI Group. https://www.theeap.com/

Grinspoon, P. (2020, April 8). Health coaching is effective. Should you try it? Harvard

Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/health-coaching-is-effective-should-you-try-it-

2020040819444

Mayo Clinic. (2020, December 29). Yoga: Fight stress and find

Serenity. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/yoga/art-

20044733

Salary.com. (2019, April 18). Health and wellness coach salary in Indianapolis,

Indiana. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/posting/health-and-wellness-coach-salary/

indianapolis-in

Smith, J. (2016, June 6). Here's why workplace stress is costing employers $300 billion a year. Business

Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-stress-at-work-is-costing-employers-300-billion-

a-year-2016-6