Elizabeth Nicholson - Chapter 11 summary:

Less Stress, Better Bottom Line

Thought-provoking, isn't it? How could well-balanced and happy employees improve the bottom line of your business?

Stress-related illnesses such as depression are on the rise in the western world. According to the World Health Organisation, depression is projected to be the highest global burden of disease by the year 2030. One of the significant risk factors for developing depression is workplace stress. The enormous cost to business of these illnesses is discussed in this chapter.

Beyondblue is an Australian organisation set up to create a community response to depression. One sobering statistic that they tell us is that in Australia, on average, every full-time employee with untreated depression costs an organisation $9665 per year.

This chapter covers the importance of identifying and tackling the causes of stress in your workplace, how to motivate your staff and make them feel more valued, and the importance of work-life balance.

Examples from a variety of companies, both large and small, have been included. These demonstrate how working within a framework of flexible hours is beneficial to both the employee and the company. Employees are more highly motivated and loyal to the company while from a cost perspective, there is less absenteeism, higher retention of skilled staff and increased productivity.

By following the simple steps outlined in this chapter, you can create within your organisation a happier yet more effective workplace for your staff.

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