Wellness programs are now turning their focus to stress in the workplace.

That's according to a report from NPR that pointed out that plenty of studies show the effects of stress on health, as well as data indicating that people are increasingly feeling stressed in the workplace.

Employers are responding, according to the report with increased focus on wellness programs, as they tote up the cost of all that stress and see what it's doing to their bottom lines.

Incorporating such strategies as yoga, massage therapy, and even water challenges to get employees to drink more water, in addition to more familiar wellness tactics such as weight management, diet and nutrition, and diabetes and asthma management, employer wellness programs are already hoping to entice workers to better their physical condition.

Now stress reduction has entered the picture, but it's not so easy to conquer — particularly since fewer than 40% of workers said that they actually participate in wellness programs at work.

And then there's the fact that a number of the stress-inducing factors stem from employer actions, such as laying off employees and then expecting those who remain to pick up the responsibilities from their now-gone coworkers — or outsourcing work, which can make those left in the office equally uncomfortable.

That makes it hard, in an already difficult workplace, for employees to feel comfortable taking sick time or vacation time — despite the fact that they may desperately need the time away from the office to recover and/or recharge. Employers need to do more than rely on a wellness program to cut employee stress.

The report said that employers need to plan ahead, and perhaps bring in temporary workers to cover for regular workers. That way employees can actually take those vacations they've earned. Such actions could then forestall employee burnout, something that will cost the company more money in lost productivity — or even, the report said, keep employees from leaving the company.

Instant Insights /

Wellness Plans Target Workplace Stress

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