How to help reduce cortisol levels among your employees
Is your team under a lot of pressure, and does it feel like stress levels are going through the roof? This is likely due to elevated cortisol levels among your employees.
Let’s take a closer look at this hormone that can negatively affect the workplace. More importantly, let’s look at actionable ways to reduce stress and improve the workplace atmosphere.
Cortisol = The stress hormone
Cortisol is a steroid hormone essential for life, often referred to as the "stress hormone." Why is it called that? Because it acts as an alarm system for our body.
When cortisol is secreted, the body goes on high alert to face or escape imminent danger. Essentially, cortisol sends a message to the body, instructing it on how to respond to physical or emotional stress.
Cortisol plays a crucial role in maintaining and balancing several of our systems, including:
- Nervous system
- Immune system
- Cardiovascular system
- Respiratory system
- Reproductive system
- Musculoskeletal system
And it does a lot more! Beyond managing stress, cortisol also:
- Regulates our metabolism by converting fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy
- Controls inflammation and immune function
- Regulates the circadian cycle, as cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day. The levels are lower at night before you go to bed, and higher when you wake up.
How do elevated cortisol levels affect employee health and performance?
Once a stressful situation has passed, cortisol levels should drop. Heart rate, blood pressure, and other functions return to normal.
But what happens when stress is constant, and employees are always on high alert?
This is when cortisol becomes harmful, affecting both the body and the mind:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Migraines
- Heart disease
- Insomnia and mood swings
- Increased blood pressure, leading to hypertension
- Elevated blood sugar levels, potentially contributing to Type 2 diabetes
- Concentration and memory problems
- Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen
- Etc.
The impacts are also felt at work. Decreased productivity and creativity, tensions and conflicts with colleagues and managers, and a poor work-life balance are all signs that stress (and consequently cortisol levels) is too high.
A study conducted among nurses (This hyperlink will open in a new tab) showed that perceived stress caused them to want to leave their jobs in search of a better work environment.
What increases cortisol rates among employees
So what causes stress at work?
Here are some of the most common causes:
- Poor working conditions
- Excessive workload
- Few opportunities for growth or advancement
- Unstimulating tasks
- Lack of support
- Insufficient control over work-related decisions
- Conflicting demands or unclear performance expectations
- Tight deadlines
Add to that a stressful work environment rife with pressure and internal conflicts, and you have a recipe for disaster.
What can you do about it?
Your role is crucial in reducing stress within your teams. But how?
1. Rethink workloads
Sometimes juggling emails, meetings, training sessions, deadlines and more can make work overwhelming.
Employees often report having too many tasks or responsibilities, and too much pressure. At the same time, they don’t have the time they need to accomplish everything.
Then it’s just a matter of time before they’re caught working overtime too often just to keep pace.
To avoid this, identify the troubles and find solutions. Set realistic priorities and eliminate less important tasks if possible.
Schedule breaks that allow employees to completely disconnect from work.
Aim for a better work-life balance. Establish firm boundaries between work and personal life. It all starts with respecting working hours—including your own.
2. Promote flexibility
The 9 to 5 days are over! Employees now look for jobs that offer flexibility: teleworking, flexible hours or unplanned vacation days to recharge their batteries.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Provide these options and adapt them based on the needs of each individual.
3. Fostering healthy relationships
A poor relationship with you can be a major source of stress for your employees. Workplace conflict often leads to decreased motivation, the blurring of work-life boundaries, and even resignation.
Take care of your relationships with employees to ensure they are respectful, transparent and understanding. Your role is to support your team and help them move in the right direction.
Be attentive to signs of burnout within your team. This is obviously a sensitive subject. By starting the conversation, you help break the stigma surrounding work-related stress.
4. Reach for the top
Do everything possible to promote the talents within your team. You already know that talents vary from person to person. It’s up to you to bring them out in everyone so that your team progresses in every way it can!
Invest in relevant training, the kind that is useful in your team’s daily work.
When your employees achieve great things, highlight them! This recognition is essential for keeping them motivated.
5. Promote health
A healthy mind in a healthy body. That’s the goal here!
Does your group insurance plan include a health and wellness program? All the better! It’s a great place to start. Your insurer can even advise you on how you can do more in terms of health.
Organize relaxation sessions, such as meditation or yoga, to help release tension at the office.
Mental health should never be overlooked. Add this component to your overall plan. Make sure employees are aware of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to better manage stress. Offer training to promote mental well-being.
By taking these steps, you create a healthier work environment where your employees can thrive and give their best.