Answer to Our Question of the Week
Here’s last week’s question, along with your responses . . .
HOW STRESSED ARE WE? How much money is spent per U.S. employee per year on stress-related claims?
a. $7,500 per employee (22%)
b. $3,650 per employee (59%)
c. $749 per employee (17%)
d. $0 per employee — there is no stress in the U.S. workplace (2%)
Looks like we may be more stressed than we think. The correct answer is “a” — a whopping $7,500 per employee.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. companies spend more than $300 billion each year on stress-related claims, which equates to approximately $7,500 for every employee. Legal expenses, medical expenses, health insurance costs, absenteeism, lost productivity — it all adds up.
Based on an informal survey of some of my employment lawyer peers, there appears to be a direct correlation between high stress in the workplace and high legal fees. The equation is pretty simple. The more stress managers feel, the less likely they are to treat their employees well. The less well that employees are treated, the more likely they are to sue.
Don’t let this happen to you. Here’s another handy equation: the better you treat your employees, the less you’ll have to talk to lawyers. Look for ways to maintain work/life balance in the workplace, especially in tough times. Flexible schedules and telecommuting can be a great way to help employees reduce stress. Employee assistance programs can also be a wonderful tool. Watch for early warning signs of any adverse treatment of employees by managers and take quick action before you wind up in court.
Our readers are now batting a fairly respectable .467 (14 right, 16 wrong) on our weekly questions. The next one will be coming your way soon.
Thanks for your participation!
