Twenty-two percent of employees are suffering from presenteeism, up three points from 2011, according to the latest StressPulse survey by ComPsych Corp, a provider of employee-assistance programs, behavioral health, wellness, work-life and human resources administration services.
"As employers continue to take a wait-and-see approach when it comes to hiring, people who currently have jobs – many of whom have taken on extra work – are starting to show signs of prolonged stress," says Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, chairman and CEO of ComPsych. "This can result in burnout and reduced performance. Employers should communicate clearly to workers about staffing expectations and should support employees with resources to reduce stress and balance work-life issues."
Another 36 percent of respondents report losing at least an hour each workday because of stress while 41 percent of respondents lose 15 to 30 minutes, and 23 percent of respondents say they are not losing any time. Sixty-three percent of respondents say they are facing high levels of stress accompanied with extreme fatigue, and 32 percent of respondents say they are under constant yet manageable stress. Only 5 percent of respondents report having low stress levels.
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The survey also finds that work overload is the top causer of stress at 39 percent, followed by people issues at 34 percent. Striking a balance between work and life comes in next as a causer of stress at 18 percent, and lack of job security is named by 9 percent of respondents.
Meanwhile, respondents say they miss work for stress and personal issues at 46 percent, and 43 percent of respondents say medical reasons and illnesses cause them to miss work. Eleven percent of respondents say they miss work because of caregiving responsibilities.
To manage stress levels, 53 percent of respondents say they take frequent stress breaks to talk with co-workers, and 36 percent battle stress by working harder while 11 percent of respondents say they take off for a day.
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