Encourage your employees to keep work at the office
It’s getting harder to get away from work, especially if an employee is issued a cell phone or laptop from his or her employer.
Some feel so compelled to work they keep the cell phone near the bed to check office email in the night and get on the web as soon as they get up in the morning.
Being on call 24/7 or frequent work interruptions during an employee’s free time can often translate to poor physical and mental health for the employee, decrease productivity and affect the employer’s bottom line.
Employers can play a role in telling workaholics to leave the work in the office or to not expect employees to work around the clock.
Here’s what you can do …
- Respect your employees’ time away from the office. Avoid calling workers late at night or on weekends when they’re enjoying family time.
- Make deadlines realistic. Talk with your employees about them.
- Remind employees about unused vacation time and taking breaks and lunches. Productivity will increase if they come back refreshed and ready to work.
- Discourage workers from taking work home with them.
- Try not to talk about work at office lunches and parties.
- Overwork and stress translates into millions of dollars worth of disability claims and sick days every year, so pay attention to workers who call in sick more than usual.
- Allow your workers flexible time.
- Set a good example. Show your workers that managers can find time to exercise and get away from work.
Source: HeathDay News
