Sweat The Stress
Sweat The Stress
Sweat The Stress
Team Number: 3
Members:
Rajkiran - RSB08058
Sowmiya V - RSB08072
Indhumathi - RSB08096
SUMMARY
In light of 2016 report, which stated that stress depression and anxiety cost UK industries 12.5M
Euro and as the trend is increasing, University of Leeds kicked off a new wellness programme
that aims to tackle the issues of stress before the negative effects are felt by the individual or
business. It employs various methods to improve one’s psychological health.
The preexisting stress gets worsened as it goes unaddressed by the both the managers and
employees and also causes a gloom-ridden environment for other employees. Heather Swinsco,
the HR professional who proposed the program felt that individuals at the earliest stage of stress
would benefit greatly and reduce stress throughout the organization.
Initial reports are positive and if it continues the program might be adopted by other areas of the
University.
QUESTIONS
To what extent is this wellness programme tackling the causes of stress? How should
employees be selected for this type of program? What issues might this cause?
The wellness program tackles stress at the earliest stage, ahead of the consequences experienced
by the individual or organization. For which it provides one-on-one support with exercises, stress
management, sleep management and healthy lifestyle management.
Ideally, the employees who needs this the most, who are experiencing the brunt of it should be
selected for this program. Also, every minute symptom of the individuals should be studied as
some might not exhibit it in an apparent manner yet might leave subtle hints, they should be
tended to immediately as they are the closest to burnout.
The ones being picked for the program might feel that they are inferior to others and might
develop insecurities. People picked might still ignore feeling that they could handle it better by
themselves.
The ones who are not picked for the program might start thinking they are better than the ones
who got picked and even if they start developing an issue later on, they would not address it
reassuring themselves based on the initial results.
Do you see any challenges in a full implementation of this sort of wellness
programme for the organization? Explain the answer.
Yes,
Full implementation needs full cooperation from the employees and at least a few will be
hesitant to join the program with reasons ranging from personal principles to their reputation
being doubted by their peers.
The more the people are designated to the wellness program the bigger the dent is going to be in
productivity of the organization.
The cost of the program is going to come out of the organization’s pocket. But this might not be
that big of a disadvantage as it appears, as the case does state “stress, depression and anxiety cost
UK industries £12.5 million in lost sick days” Though the resultant money saved by the program
by eliminating the loss in productivity might not be equal to the cost of it in this era with the
attrition rates skyrocketing the company might not only get better review in glassdoor but might
also enable the organization recruit better talent due to it.
This type of program aims to reduce stress across the organization. What issues may
impact successful uptake by staff?
An individual’s personal agenda like meeting their targets, working towards their career growth
or getting that variable pay might come in the way of enrolling and sticking to the program.
Since expressing emotions in workplace and repressing one’s feelings almost anywhere
especially if you belong to the masculine gender has become a societal standard in quite a few
countries staff might fear to join the program in fear of ridicule.
Some people who tend to be on the pessimistic side might not join the program due to denial of
results, result of evaluation being unfavorable or other reasons.