Stress Affecting Workplace Productivity

Nearly a third (32%) said they lose 15 – 30 minutes per day in productivity.  Less than a quarter (24%) said their productivity is unaffected by stress.  

In addition, the survey found more than half of workers (51%) report missing one to two days of work per year due to stress, and nearly two-thirds (64%) indicated they come to work one to four days per year when they are too stressed to be effective. The most common reasons for absences cited by survey respondents were stress and personal relationship issues (46%).  

So, what are workers stressed about?  According to the survey, 35% said it is their workload, 33% cited people issues, 20% said it is a lack of job security, and 12% said juggling work and their personal life stresses them.  

Nearly seven in ten respondents (68%) reported having high levels of stress with extreme fatigue and/or feeling out of control, up from 65% in 2009. Nearly three in ten (27%) said they have constant but manageable stress levels.  

To cope with stress, 62% of workers polled said they take frequent “stress breaks” at work to talk to others, 26% said they work harder, and 12% take the day off.  

ComPsych’s StressPulse survey was conducted from October 15 to November 12, 2010, among more than 1,000 ComPsych client companies nationwide.