Workplace Stress Management: Leveraging Workspace Booking Solutions for Support

Chances are that in the last couple of years, the concept of the work environment has changed drastically within your office space. Perhaps more and more employees are working in a remote or hybrid setting where they only make an appearance in the office a couple of days a pay period. More likely, the office is still figuring out how to manage employees in a drastically changed environment where employees often demand greater flexibility.

All of this flux and policy change can create quite a bit of stress for employees, especially if they are not receiving clear direction on when and how they should be making an appearance at the office. This can be especially true if the office space itself has been revamped substantially in an attempt to meet the needs of employees while saving money by downsizing. Managing workplace stress in these situations is a critical need to help sustain the workforce, build stability, and increase productivity.

A Changing Office Environment

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of employees working remotely skyrocketed. As pandemic office regulations began to ease, many employees were not eager to come back to a daily office routine and have fought spectacularly for greater flexibility and at least a hybrid working environment. This has paid off for many as remote and hybrid work packages are now considered benefits that most employees feel as though they can negotiate when they accept a new position.

However, it has left many offices empty and businesses struggling to justify their continued need. Even though some employers are still requiring their employees to come into the office a couple of days a week, many are still looking at plans to downsize their office spaces. All in all, employers are hoping to create an office environment that is as flexible as their employees’ work locations are and that is deeply collaborative in nature.

This can mean a number of different changes in the office layout. For one, employees may find that they no longer have a designated desk and work area that they can call their own, but rather they now have to book a desk space daily or weekly if they plan to come into the office. They may also find that offices are turning into areas focused on group meetings and collaborative work and are no longer really quiet spaces where one can focus and be productive. 

Reducing Stress in the Workplace

Not surprisingly, office changes are one of the most stressful things that many employees experience in their work environments. These changes can make employees feel as though they are not valued by leadership, especially if desk space is stripped away or significantly downgraded. Many may also feel as though they don’t have a space to complete meaningful daily work at the office anymore and that the whole place feels a lot colder and less inviting.

Unmanaged stress in the workplace can cause a number of serious issues both for employees and employers. For employees stress can lead to feelings of despair in their jobs, long-term health issues, and a less rejuvenating social life. For employers, stressed employees can result in higher workplace turnover, a negative reputation, and lower productivity from employees who remain in their positions.

Perhaps one of the most powerful tools that management has for addressing issues associated with workplace stress is communication. Giving employees a clear picture of the decisions that are being made related to office space, why these decisions are being made, and creating space to listen to employee concerns can help put their minds at ease and clear up confusion before it becomes a major problem. Time and time again, clear communication and transparency make a significant difference in both employee productivity and stress levels.

Creating Value in New Office Arrangements

If the company has decided to incorporate a process of checking out desk space, it is invaluable to make sure that the rollout of the process goes smoothly. This can mean working to ensure that a specific protocol is in place for desk checkout and that any apps or technologies needed are easy to understand and download for use. Desk checkout situations can be an incredibly efficient means of accommodating a hybrid working environment in a smaller working space.

Another important strategy to ensure employees still feel valued during significant office changes is to come together to create a shared connection. Group sessions and meetings in person can help employees develop relationships with each other and work to complete common project goals efficiently. Focusing group work in an in-person setting can make it easier for questions to get quick answers and can help the whole process move along more effectively.

When employees are working remotely, they may also feel as though they are not getting the same types of interaction and learning experience that they might have gotten if they were in an in-person work environment. Employers can help this by ensuring that training and continuing education are valued parts of the employee experience. This, again, can reduce stress in employees by helping them develop a deeper understanding of projects, helping them network, and it can ultimately make them more productive team members.

Steps to take

Changing office environments can be stressful for employees who are working in any setting. Managing that stress is an important part of the transition that employers need to take seriously. Ways to do this can include making sure new protocols are in place, maintaining high levels of communication, and showing employees they are still valued team members even though office spaces may not look the same as they once did.