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Workplace stress costs businesses billions of dollars a year in absenteeism, staff turnover, errors, accidents, and theft to support drag or alcohol habits. From a 1996 survey (the most current) directed toward its members, the Employee Assistance Professional Association in Arlington, Va., found stress ranked second only to family crisis as the reason those members contacted the organization for assistance. On-the-job stress isn't limited to workplace issues. Violent world events, the fear of terrorism and a faltering economy, and personal stressors, such as family and financial problems, can also negatively affect one's physical and mental health and work performance. Sometimes employers forget employees have lives outside the workplace, and it's not uncommon nor necessarily a weakness if they can't leave their troubles at home.

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STRESS IS EVERYWHERE

Workplace stress costs businesses billions of dollars a year in absenteeism, staff turnover, errors, accidents, and theft to support drag or alcohol habits. From a 1996 survey (the most current) directed toward its members, the Employee Assistance Professional Association in Arlington, Va., found stress ranked second only to family crisis as the reason those members contacted the organization for assistance.

On-the-job stress isn't limited to workplace issues. Violent world events, the fear of terrorism and a faltering economy, and personal stressors, such as family and financial problems, can also negatively affect one's physical and mental health and work performance. Sometimes we forget employees have lives outside the workplace, and it's not uncommon nor necessarily a weakness if they can't leave their troubles at home.

THIS THING CALLED STRESS

Stressors can be positive (a wedding, a new job) or negative (divorce, death of a loved one). Since each of us reacts differently to them, one person's catastrophe is another's opportunity.

By definition, stress is a mental or physical tension or strain caused by your perception of an event that, in turn, triggers physiological or psychological changes in the body. These bodily changes made sense for the earliest humans who relied on the fight-or-flight response to the threat of saber-toothed tigers. For them, a complex set of physical responses was set in motion, designed to increase their chances of survival.

This survival mechanism still exists in us today. In emergency situations, the body's release of adrenalin and cortisol hormones works to speed up the heartbeat and supply extra glucose for energy (to flee or fight that tiger) and thicken the blood (so it clots more readily in case one gets slashed). These hormones also suppress the immune system, but scientists still don't know why.

A healthy body can normally handle a big jolt of stress now and then. But continued or frequent exposure to stressors releases more cortisol, thereby weakening your immune cells and leaving you more susceptible to illness. A near-constant increased heart rate raises your blood pressure, forcing your heart to work harder at pumping blood and oxygen through-out your body. This could possibly lead to a heart attack. Other negative effects include headaches and muscular aches, exhaustion, insomnia, and anxiety.

WHY ALL THE STRESS?

Be aware of workplace Stressors that can affect you and your employees. Change, favorable or not, is as stressful as workload, whether too boring or too exhausting. Job politics can be stressful when you deny it or respond ineffectively to the game, and interruptions, conflicting demands, procrastination, ineffective delegating, and poor organizational and time management skills add pressure to the workday.

As owner or manager of your business, some Stressors belong mostly to you, such as worrying about the competition, wearing too many hats, and dealing with a personnel shortage. As top dog of your company, you may have no one to talk to about all this stress, causing you more stress.

Meanwhile, your employees can always commiserate with each other about the following:

* physical and mental demands-Long hours, heavy lifting, boring tasks, demanding responsibilities, prolonged standing or sitting, inadequate training, and repetitive motion tasks

* other people-Difficult customers make anyone tense as can working with a diverse group of people, some of whom may not like or understand each other.

* work environment-Bad ergonomics, poor lighting, insufficient ventilation, inconsistent or uncomfortable temperature control, noise, lack of privacy, and unsanitary conditions

* changes in duties-Learning new skills can be overwhelming; so can a welcome promotion of a new manager, who now supervises his or her former peers and faces their jealousy or resentment.

* the boss's attitude-Any anger you may feel may rub off on your staff. Staff members may also feel angry if you don't show them enough respect and recognition.

* job dissatisfaction-We spend at least half our waking lives at work. That's too much time to feel unhappy. An employee looking to quit won't perform as well or may take time off to seek another job.

* unstable staff-If your business is going through tough economic times, you may be forced to lay off staff. What could be more stressful than a reduced workforce for you and job loss for your employees?

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If you want to manage stress on the job, begin with yourself. Maintain a positive attitude, since the way you perceive stressful events determines how well you'll deal with them. Eat a healthful diet, exercise, and get plenty of sleep. Establish a supportive network of friends and family, and balance out your life with activities that have nothing to do with your work.

While you're getting your own stress under control, help your employees manage theirs by doing the following:

* Encourage open communication. Ask that employee with a chip on his or her shoulder what's causing the anger. Invite staff members to talk about their stress, and really listen to them. Show concern and promise confidentiality.

* Offer employee assistance. Send your employees to a stress management seminar and provide a list of community mental health services. Fund an employee assistance program, on- or off-site, for free, confidential guidance.

* Lighten up. Encourage a relaxed and casual atmosphere at your company. There's nothing wrong with mixing business and pleasure. Humor can be a powerful antidote to stress, and people who have fun at work are less anxious and more productive.

* be generous with benefits. Offer a solid medical plan including preventive or alternative health care options, contribute to your employees' gym memberships and day care, and provide flextime and job sharing. Stock vending machines with healthful snacks.

* Provide boundaries, support, and trust. Offer job predictability with written company policies, procedures, and job descriptions. Provide effective training, and show your appreciation with praise and motivational and incentive programs.

* Give appropriate responsibility. Let employees have more say over what they do and how they perform their jobs. Invite suggestions on how they could add or eliminate certain duties, or make changes to how they contribute to your company.

TAKE CHARGE TO MANAGE STRESS

You may not be able to influence and overcome every stressful situation that confronts you, but you can take charge of how you respond. When you successfully manage stress, you embrace:

* control-You know what you're able to change and accept that which you can't change.

* challenge-You view stress as an opportunity for creative problem solving.

* community-You work with others to make changes by actions ranging from talking openly with staff to forming committees.

Learn to manage the stress in your own home and work life, and help your employees manage theirs. Sure, it takes time and effort to educate yourself and carry out the changes to ensure a stress-free workplace. But isn't your business worth it?