speech

Title of Speech: How Stress Affects Employee Productivity Topic: Stress Affecting Employee Productivity General Purpose: To inform. Specific Purpose: To inform the audience about what causes stress in the workplace and how it affects employee’s productivity.

I. Introduction A. In a survey completed by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America,

56% of workers said that stress and anxiety most often impact their workplace performance, and 50% said that it affected their quality of work. (adaa.org)

B. Workplace stress affects a vast majority of workers, and this has only been increasing in recent years with numerous factors. Not only does workplace stress affect the employees themselves, but also the business/corporation they are a part of. However, there are ways to reduce stress from happening in the workplace.

Transition: Let’s look at how some factors in the workplace can lead to stress in an employee.

II. Body A. What factors can induce stress in an employee?

a. One of the main causes of stress in employees are excessively high workloads, this not only causes massive pressure for the individual but it can also make them feel rushed and overwhelmed. However, insufficient workloads are just as worse for inducing stress in workers since it makes them feel their skills are being underused. (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)

b. Another factor in workplace stress is job insecurity and few promotional opportunities, it is quite common for workers to feel uninspired with their work when there is no growth in their career. Work related stress is the second most common compensated illness/injury in Australia. (betterhealth.vic.gov.au)

Transition: Now that we’ve seen what factors can lead to employee stress, how does it affect their productivity in the workplace and the business itself?

B. How does workplace stress in employees affect their productivity and the business? a. Workplace stress can have a very negative impact on an employee’s job

performance, in an article published by Stephen J. Motowidlo, John S. Packard, and Michael R. Manning they found that the stressful events during the subject’s jobs caused feelings of stress, leading to depression and causing decrements in interpersonal and cognitive/motivational aspects of job performance. (Occupational Stress: Its Causes and Consequences for Job Performance)

b. Outside of work, stress can have an even greater detrimental impact. Loss of motivation, increased aggression, and unhealthy eating habits are just a few of the negative aspects work stress can create for an employee. (health.facty.com)

c. Workplace stress in employees not only affects themselves but also the business itself. The National Institute of Stress found that it costs U.S. businesses more than $300 billion a year in the guise of stress-related “absenteeism, turnover, diminished productivity and medical, legal and insurance costs.” When employees are stressed it leads to a lack of a motivation and focus, sometimes depression. These all add up and cause employees to take time off or call in sick. (thebenefitsguide.com)

Transition: After seeing what effects stress in the workplace can have on an employee and business, what are ways we can prevent it from happening?

C. What are ways business’ and employees can prevent workplace stress from happening? a. When looking at companies like Facebook and Google they create a habitat

within the workplace that promotes productivity and morale boosting. It doesn’t hurt to budget in more modern furniture or even a ping-pong /foosball table. (businessreviewusa.com)

b. An employer may have stress management resources available through an employee assistance program (EAP), which includes online information, available counseling and referral to mental health professionals if needed. (apa.org)

Transition: Now that I have discussed the main points let’s review.

III. Conclusion A. There are many factors that can induce workplace stress, excessively high

workloads, overwhelmed by unrealistic deadlines, the feeling of their skills being underused, and job insecurity. This causes a very negative effect not only on the employees’ health but also on the business itself, costing more than $300 billion in stress related costs. However, companies can prevent workplace stress from happening by budgeting towards more social activity within the company and creating an environment for employees in which aesthetically productivity and morale is encouraged.

B. Workplace stress effects a vast majority of works around the world, with many factors at work that contribute to it. Not only does stress affect employee productivity but it also affects the company’s business itself. However, as I have discussed there are ways to help reduce stress from happening in the workplace which can lead to better employee morale and productivity.

C. Stress can have a very negative affect on an employee’s productivity, but not only that but can have affect them outside of the workplace too. I believe that if an employer creates a work environment in which their employees are accredited for their work and contributions, stress management resources are available to

workers, and treating employees as human beings, then a business can successfully prevent workplace stress within their employees thus keeping productivity at its maximum.

Works Cited

ADAA. “Highlights: Workplace Stress & Anxiety Disorders Survey.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, ADAA, 2016, adaa.org/workplace-stress-anxiety- disorders-survey.

“Coping with Stress at Work.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological

Association, Dec. 2017, www.apa.org/helpcenter/work-stress.aspx. Deby. “10 Signs of Workplace Stress - Page 7 of 10.” Facty Health, Facty Network, 5 Sept.

2017, health.facty.com/ailments/stress/10-signs-of-workplace-stress/7/. Department of Health & Human Services. “Work-Related Stress.” Better Health Channel,

Department of Health & Human Services, 1 June 2012, www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/work-related-stress.

Migrator. “Common Causes of Stress at Work.” Nibusinessinfo.co.uk, Nidirect, 9 Nov. 2017,

www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/common-causes-stress-work. Motowidlo, S. J., Packard, J. S., & Manning, M. R. (1986). Occupational stress: Its causes and

consequences for job performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71(4), 618-629. Sahlan, Emmie. “Work Stress, Its Impact on Your Business - and What You Can Do.” Anthem |

The Benefits Guide, Anthem, 15 Sept. 2016, thebenefitsguide.com/work-stress-impact- business-can/.

“7 Ways Employers Can Reduce Stress in the Workplace.” USA, Business Review, 24 Mar.

2014, www.businessreviewusa.com/leadership/3621/7-ways-employers-can-reduce- stress-in-the-workplace.