KemLaw

Employers throughout Connecticut and the nation are under increasing competitive pressure to do more in less time and with fewer people.

While these pressures are very real (and keep in mind, we are an employer defense law firm) – it’s important to remember that pushing one’s workforce to extreme can have measurable negative impacts.

As Beth Gutelius, a senior researcher at the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois-Chicago points out in HR Magazine:

“We have to consider the physical toll and the mental toll,” she says. “They’re linked, but the mental toll gets much less attention. Nobody’s doing a lot of research on the psychological toll of being under that level of surveillance and that level of pressure to work quickly under threat of being fired by the computer.”

In some environments, particularly in manufacturing, even trips to the restroom are closely monitored now.   The scrutiny over bathroom breaks in some cases has led employees to relieve themselves into bottles on the shop floor rather than risk receiving reprimands and disciplinary points.  Battles over restroom access have even led to pending lawsuits in federal court.

How Employers Can Limit Employee Stress…

It’s important to remember that intense pressure to perform, work long hours, deal with job insecurity, manage heavy workloads, travel frequently, and other factors often reduce productivity, impacting a company’s bottom-line while leading to employee burnout.

It’s estimated that one million workers call in sick each day in America because of physical and emotional stress at an estimated cost to employers of almost $300 billion annually.

What can Connecticut employers do to help?

• Remain mindful of how much you’re asking each employee to do during their workday/week.
• Remember the importance of a work/life balance – and where possible, help your employees achieve that balance.
• Improve morale and reduce stress levels by celebrating the achievements of your workforce.
• Strive to have a fair and balanced workplace policy that includes reasonable paid time off.
• Train managers to watch for signs of burnout and fatigue – encouraging them to give you feedback on workplace policies that could be improved.

In the end, happy and motivated employees are an invaluable asset and good for business.

If you’re an employer and have questions about labor and employment law, including employee policies, consider calling on the attorneys at Kainen, Escalera & McHale in Connecticut.  We do one thing and one thing only – we are an employer defense law firm – in fact, we are one of the largest employer defense law firms in the region.  What’s more, each of our attorneys has over 25 years of experience in employment and labor law matters and can provide your business with comprehensive legal counsel ranging from assistance with necessary preventive measures to trial advocacy.  Please contact us if we can help you.

The information provided above is made available by Kainen, Escalera & McHale, P.C. for educational purposes only.  It is not intended to provide specific legal advice to your individual circumstances or legal questions. You acknowledge that neither your reading of, nor posting on, this site establishes an attorney-client relationship between you and our law firm or any of the attorneys in our firm. This information should not be used as a substitute for seeking competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state nor is it provided for the specific purpose of soliciting your business on any particular matter. Readers of this information should not act upon anything communicated in it without seeking professional counsel.