Stress is overwhelmingly prevalent in modern society. Sleep depravation, poor health, relationship woes and financial concerns can all take their toll. However the number one cause of stress, according to Statistic Brain, that is work-related pressures.

　　如今，压力问题已经是现代社会的最普遍的问题了。根据《统计大脑》公司的研究，睡眠不足，身体不适，紧张的人际关系，还有经济问题都能成为压力的来源，但不管哪一个是最主要的原因，那都是与工作相关的。

　　High stress levels often cause or can worsen a long list of health issues, including heart disease, obesity, depression and diabetes. In addition to paying 50 percent more annually in health costs for stressed workers, employers are dealing with additional effects of stress that directly impact their profitability, such as loss of productivity, absenteeism, turnover and disengagement. According to the American Institute of Stress, job stress costs US businesses more than $300 billion annually.

　　高度的精神紧张常常会引发甚至加重一连串的健康问题，包括心脏疾病，肥胖症，忧郁症和糖尿病。雇主们除了每年为饱受压力困扰的员工多投入百分之五十的健康补贴以外，他们也应对着一些来自压力的额外影响，它们会直接影响盈利能力，如：工作效率低下，旷工，裁员以及离巢。根据美国职业压力研究所的研究，美国的企业机构每年在处理工作压力方面的问题耗费多于三千亿美元。

　　Everyday work pressures are compounded by the current troubled economy and near constant news streams of foreclosures and layoffs, meaning employees are feeling the effects of anxiety and stress more than ever before. With this in mind, there has never been a more important time for employers to make reducing stress a top priority.

　　日常的工作压力主要来自于当前的经济困境，临近的无休止的取消抵押品赎回权，以及裁员状况的涌现，这就意味着员工们目前经受的焦虑与压力比以往要多得多。由此，雇主们要把减压提到议事日程首位的行动就刻不容缓了。

　　HOW CAN EMPLOYERS REDUCE STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE?

　　雇主们该如何减少职场中的压力?

　　1. LEAD BY EXAMPLE

　　1. 以身作则

　　In order to reduce stress in the workplace, it’s important that managers lead by example. As a leader it’s critical you keep a lid on your own emotions; don’t let negativity, anger or stress rub off on your employees. Practice what you preach and ensure you give yourself enough time to de-stress at the end of the working day – go for a run, enjoy quality time with your family or arrange to socialize with friends. Likewise, organizing walking meetings rather than meetings in the boardroom, taking regular breaks and booking holiday will not only put you in a better frame of mind, it will also show your employees that it’s okay to take some time out.

　　为了达到减压的目的，管理者们就很有必要以身作则了。作为一名领导，你要懂得克制自己的情绪，不能让负面的情绪，愤怒的情绪或压力影响到员工们。言传身教，确保在工作结束后留给自己足够的时间排解压力——可以去跑跑步，与家人享受品质时光或者安排时间与朋友们进行社交活动。同样的，安排边走边谈的会议而不是室内会议，多小憩以及预订假期活动不仅能让你调整更好的心态，还能给员工们说明花点时间离开工作是一件值得考虑的事情。

　　2. INTRODUCE WORKPLACE WELLNESS SCHEMES

　　2. 引入职场健康方案

　　It has been said time and time again, but exercise and a healthy lifestyle is extremely important when it comes to combating workplace-related stress. Employee wellness schemes, such as paying for a portion of employees gym memberships or running group-wide healthy eating challenges is a good way to help employees unwind and feel better about themselves.

　　虽然这已经是老生常谈的话题了，但是当谈到应对工作压力的时候，加强体育锻炼和保持健康的生活方式确实是极其重要的。设定员工健康方案，比如购买一份员工健身会员资格或者设定公司范围内的健康饮食挑战计划，都是有助员工们放开自我以及更好地感受自我的方法。

　　3. CREATE SOCIAL ACTIVITY

　　3. 安排社交活动

　　Employees spend a lot of time with their co-workers and therefore it’s important they get along. The more people enjoy their time at work, the better the atmosphere will be – and a better office atmosphere leads to productivity, creativity and collaboration. At least once a week set aside an hour to bring your team together in a fun environment; play a game, go out for lunch or arrange for a motivational speaker to come into the office. Social activity is good for reducing stress, boosting morale and team building.

　　员工们与同事待在一起的时间非常多，所以确保他们能够友好相处是很重要的。当人们越享受工作的时光，工作的氛围就会越和谐——如此一来，和谐的办公氛围就能够提高工作效率，创造力以及协作能力。每周至少安排一次一个小时的活动，让你的团队相聚在一个有趣的环境中，玩游戏也好，外出午餐也好，或者找一位能够激励人心的演说者来发表演说也好。社交活动能够很好的减轻压力，提高士气及有助团队建设。

　　4. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES

　　4. 与员工们沟通

　　Open communication is critical in leadership; keeping employees up to date regarding changes, expectations and their own performance not only keeps them on track but also reduces feelings of stress and anxiety – after all there is nothing worse than being kept in the dark. As a manager, be sure to keep your team abreast of the latest developments and departmental changes. What’s more, open communication is a two way street and the more you converse with your employees, the more likely they are to share concerns, ideas and thoughts making for much stronger working relationships and a healthier overall company culture.

　　开放的沟通交流对树立领导威信是至关重要的，基于各种变化，目标期待以及员工的表现让员工们信息更新，不仅能够让他们持续了解公司的动态，还能降低压力和焦虑的情绪——比较没有什么比蒙在鼓里更糟糕的了。作为一名管理者，你要确保团队成员对公司的发展以及部门变动的消息与时俱进。再者，开放沟通是一种双向沟通的方式，当你跟员工们交流得越多，员工们就更乐意分享自己担忧，点子和想法，这样有助于建立更强大的工作关系，营造更健康的整体公司文化。

　　5. PROVIDE A ‘CHILL OUT’ SPACE IN THE OFFICE

　　5. 设置“冷静区”

　　Sometimes people need 15 minutes to relax, re-group and disengage from technology and general work-related interactions. Providing a quiet room, or a chill out zone where employees can spend 15 minutes with their thoughts can dramatically help reduce workplace stress and burnout. After taking a short break free from distractions, people often feel refreshed and re-energized to tackle the rest of the day. If you can, provide comfortable seating and paint the walls a neutral color – a pleasant environment is good for boosting happiness.

　　有时候人们需要休息放松15分钟，重组思绪，远离技术设备还有那些与工作相关的互动。如果雇主们能够在公司里设置一个安静的房间，或者一个用于冷静放松的区域，员工们就可以在那里待个15分钟来调整思绪，这么做可以极大地缓解工作压力和倦怠情绪。经过短暂远离干扰的休息后，人们通常会感到焕然一新和能量重燃，接下来的工作就能顺利完成了。如果有条件，可以为员工们配置舒适的座椅并把墙壁粉刷成中性的色调——因为一个优美的环境有助于增加幸福感。

　　6. THINK ABOUT THE HABITAT

　　6. 为工作环境花点心思

　　What do the likes of Facebook, Google and Twitter do different? Well for starters they think about every detail including their employees work surroundings. Not every company can build its own workers village, complete with health food restaurants and indoor bike lanes, however there is always room for improvement, particularly when it could boost productivity and overall job satisfaction. Think about budgeting for some brighter, more modern office furniture, consider changing the color of the walls (out with the sludge green and in with something fresher, cleaner and brighter), introduce some plants in the office, invest in some new pictures – even small changes like new office cutlery and kitchenware will make the working environment conducive to, well, work. If you have the room, a Ping-Pong or foosball table will go a long way to boosting employee morale too.

　　您知道脸书，谷歌以及推特这三家公司的与众不同之处是什么吗?首先，它们会考虑到所有的细节，包括员工的工作环境。虽然不是每一家公司都具备修建员工新村的条件，包括健康餐厅和室内自行车道，但是每家公司都有它需要进步的空间，特别是促进工作效率和提高总体职业满意度这两方面。雇主们不妨考虑购置一些更明亮，更有现代感的办公室家具，或者考虑为墙壁增添新的色彩(外墙刷成青绿色，内墙则使用看起来更清新，更干净和明亮的颜色)，为办公室购置一些植物或一些新的画作——即便是细小的改变，比如新的办公室餐具或厨具都会使得工作环境有助于员工的工作。如果你有空余的房间，增设一张乒乓球桌子或桌面足球桌子都会对提高员工士气大有好处。

　　7. ALLOW FLEXI-TIME AND REMOTE WORKING

　　7. 允许弹性工作以及远程办公

　　A major stress inducer, particularly for women, is stringent working hours. Allowing employees to work remotely, or even on a flexi-time scheme is proven to be good for morale and thus profitability. Not only are you saying to your employees, “I trust you,” by allowing them to manage their own time, but you are also taking away added stress such as child care considerations from working parents. Just make sure you manage this sort of flexibility with open communication and by outlining clear expectations and parameters.

　　有一个主要的压力来源，特别对于女性来说，就是严格的工作时间。早有证据证明，允许员工们远程办公，或者设置一个弹性工作的方案，是一个提高士气并随之提高盈利能力的好方法。你让员工们安排自己的时间，不仅能够告诉他们“我相信你”，你也在减少额外的压力，比如上班族父母的小孩照顾问题。你只需要确保你能够保持开放的沟通，给予清晰的目标期望和衡量标准，由此便可管理此种弹性工作的机制。

（编辑：何莹莹）