Stress Mounts as Holidays Approach

Employees are facing more stress than ever at work, and the holidays only make things worse, according to a new survey from ComPsych Corp. Seasonal increases in pressure add to feelings of fatigue and a sense of being out of control, both of which hurt performance and lead to increased absenteeism. Adding to the stress levels is ongoing concern over the shaky economy, which makes incorporating gift-giving into already-strained family budgets all the more difficult for many workers. "As the holiday shopping season begins, employees are trying to balance the urge to spend with the worry that they will retain their job," said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, chairman and CEO of ComPsych. "We increasingly get calls from employees who are struggling to manage their daily expenses.” ComPsych is a provider of employee assistance programs specializing in areas such as behavioral health/wellness, work-life balance and crisis intervention. More than 2,000 employees took part in the survey, which can be accessed here.