Workplace Stress: What to Do During Down Times?

The main problem in a down economy is thatThe goal of these employee teams is to
workplaces tend to become stressful and moraleinvestigate new business development options
bottoms out. This reduces overall productivity andthat are either focused (how to move inventory)
especially gets in the way of teamwork. Here areor wide open (identify potential customers in new
some approaches that go beyond cash rewards,areas). By encouraging workers to focus on the
stock options or other silver-lined benefitfuture, motivation levels rise quickly.
packages to keep employees engaged during anSupport community involvement.
economic downturn. Sometimes, simple worksProvide company time for teams of employees
best.to serve dinner at a local shelter, help build
Have informal coffee talks.houses, adopt a family for a holiday, or collect
Pull an entire work team together to openly talkmoney for a common charity. It not only serves
about what's going on in the world and how itas a motivator in that people feel they are doing
affects business. Encourage employee questions.something with a purpose but also creates a
This decreases negative rumors and also getspositive public image.
employees focused on work rather than onMake people feel valuable.
griping.Talk with key employees about the types of
Offer stress relief activities.projects, training, or experiences they would like
Hire a local massage school to offer freeto have. Times may be tough for people to get
10-minute chair massages once a week. Ajobs, but your best people are also the most
distinctive and fun way for a company to conveymarketable. One of the main reasons people leave
that it recognizes the rough times and it caresor are unmotivated is because they don't feel
about their staff's well-being.valued by their manager or company.
Create future teams.