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Signs of an Overstressed Employee

Stress is fairly normal within the workplace, but a chronic, overstressed employee can pose a problem for employers, co-workers and the employee. With rising insurance costs and fewer employees, it can be a great asset for an employer to be able to identify overstressed employees and take action. There are some basic signs that a stressed employee will convey if the employer pays attention. Recognizing these signs can increase the basic morale of the working environment, in addition to reducing insurance costs and absentee rates.

  1. Absenteeism and Tardiness

    • Stress can lead to a variety of anxiety issues, many of which can result in an employee's absence or tardiness from work. Stress in the workplace often results in sleep difficulties. When a sleep-deprived employee finally does fall asleep, oversleeping can cause tardiness. A lack of sleep can also contribute to illness, resulting in absences. Absenteeism can also suggest a lack of motivation, which is detrimental to a workplace. Substance abuse is another possible contributing factor to an employee's absences, as stress, depression and substance abuse are often inter-related.

    Decrease in Quality of Work

    • If an employee feels stress from too much pressure or from time being incredibly limited, the quality of the employee's work may suffer. When an employee's work begins to suffer, it can effect everyone in the workplace. Other employees may be depending on the quality of the stressed employee's assignment, and the stress of one person can easily cause a chain reaction. If one employee fails to produce expected results, that responsibility falls on a co-worker, increasing the co-worker's level of stress.

    Lack of Humor

    • If an employee who normally seems to have a great sense of humor is not cracking her normal jokes or is abnormally quiet, stress may be the reason. When a person feels stressed, social interactions are not a top priority, especially if that person is under a strict deadline. A stressed employee can become so focused on his own issues and problems that humor is out of reach.

    Argumentative Behavior

    • For many stressed employees, anger and frustration is a natural result of anxiety. If an employee is suddenly snappy and argumentative with fellow co-workers, a hostile working environment results. This can cause additional added stress to all members of the workplace. Yelling and bullying others is a clear indicator of an overstressed employee that requires immediate action.

    Widespread Stress

    • Work-related stress is a product of the environment and is not limited to just one employee. It is important for employers to be able to recognize the signs of widespread stress, such as office arguments and fights, low morale, an increased amount of complaints and overall absenteeism. If these factors are presented, the key is to create an environment that feels welcoming. Encourage employees to share feelings, if willing.

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