Study: Organizational Change Triggers Increase In Employee Stress

It may not come as a big surprise, but a recent study shows how stress associated with organizational change has a measurable negative affect on your employees’ health.

Read: Reducing Employee Stress in the Workplace

The way you run your business can have a direct effect on your employees’ health and ability to be productive within your organization.

According to a study conducted by Morneau Shepell, a Canadian human resource consultancy, it revealed a significant link that exists between organizational changes and employee mental health and absenteeism related to stress.

Here are some of the key findings in the study: 

What Can Cause Stress?

• 66 percent of employees reported experiencing a significant organizational change
• 39 percent said team restructuring
• 35 percent noted downsizing and job responsibility
• 29 percent cited office space redesign

The Long-Term Effect

The question for employers is: what’s the long-term effect? Here’s the most compelling part: 43 percent of surveyed employees indicated that organizational change, regardless of origin, negatively affects their perception of the company.

Want to learn how much financial stress can negatively affect your employees?

• Download our report •

Additionally, 40 percent of those surveyed said workplace change affects their health and well-being. That’s significant, especially if you don’t want to make your employees sick or add to their stress. 

Of those surveyed, 30 percent mentioned that organizational change affects their job performance. So even if the changes are meant to be beneficial to your business, they can have a negative effect.

What’s The Common Thread?

Stability appears to be one of the best things you can do for both the wellbeing of your staff and the health and productivity of your business.

At some point in time, unavoidable changes, such as downsizing, are bound to occur.

However, when it comes to redesigning an office, for example, it might be worth waiting or properly prepping your team for an adjustment to prevent increases in absenteeism, mental stress, and employee turnover.

The health and wellness of your staff may be inextricably connected to your organizational stability.

Maintaining a consistent work environment and minimizing changes that can negatively affect your employees are crucial to your business’ success.

If necessary office changes do come about, buying gift cards for the teams most affected is one way to thank them for their patience and understanding during the transition.