'This is a tool that any HR professional can use to put their agenda forward because it's backed up by scientific facts'
Employees have long known first-hand that how much stress you receive at work has an effect on both physical and mental health.
But new research from the University of Louisville in Kentucky has found that the level of stress hormones in the blood is directly connected to the type of workplace stress.
The study, “Workplace Culture and Biomarkers of Health Risk,” was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in July.
The researchers asked 219 participants to complete questionnaires around their daily work lives and through blood tests, and then levels of stress hormones were analyzed. They found that the higher the negative outcomes, the more harmful hormones were produced.
When they were higher over a longer period, the levels indicated chronic stress and there was a greater risk of developing such things as cardiovascular disease, as well as other chronic conditions.
The results showed participants who reported greater well-being, engagement and positive feelings toward their work environment had lower levels of these stress-associated hormones, while the opposite was true for those who reported poor well-being, isolation and negative feelings about work.
“If our work culture puts us under constant stress, this study suggests it can affect our health and our risk for chronic conditions over time,” says researcher Rachel Keith
Welcome evidence
While the study is believed to be the first of its kind, according to the university, it’s not surprising to some who work in the wellness industry.
“I’ve been in this industry for 30-plus years so I’m not surprised at all. I’m happy to see the evidence,” says Mary-Lou MacDonald, national practice lead health and performance at HUB International in Ottawa.
For those lucky enough to work in a supportive environment, “you’re motivated to do your job, you feel appreciated, you’re recognized, you want to show up every day and give 100 per cent; you sleep better, you have energy, you’re inspired and you might be passionate about what it is you’re doing,” she says.
On the flip side, “if you’re not in a supportive working environment, where you’re constantly feeling stressed, or chronically feeling stressed by situations in in the workplace, be it your leadership is not strong, there’s all kinds of factors… the workplace can negatively impact your mental health and therefore your physical health,” says MacDonald.
Timely results
These type of findings can help HR professionals today, as many are in the process of reimagining the workplace for the future, says an HR leader.
“This always has been an assumption… based on observation, maybe discussion, as well but with this study, this is going to be a tool that any HR professional or leader can use to put their agenda forward because it’s backed up by scientific facts,” says Michael Dimaano, manager, total compensation and HR policy, at the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCH).
When levels of negative stress are occurring regularly, only the worst of outcomes can be expected for employee health, he says.
“When somebody is affected by that, definitely the first thing that’s impacted is their performance; they’re burnt out. Having higher stress levels can also lead to detachment from the workplace because you resent it, because you don’t find joy in doing what you’re doing, thus, engagement might suffer in the organization and if that happens, low engagement in the workplace can lead to low productivity and low profitability for the organization as well.”
This is also shown in the benefits industry, as mental health insurance claims have increased 75 per cent between 2019 and 2021, says MacDonald.
Good stress
However, not all stress is bad, according to the research, as short-term doses can bring out positive outcomes.
“Stress is fine in smaller, short-term doses, and may even help us to finish an important project or solve a big crisis,” says Keith.
There is some good stress, says Dimaano, “because being in a stressful situation keeps you active, keeps you alert, keeps you more creative.”
The time exposed to stress is also important in its effects, says MacDonald.
“When stress goes on too long, it’s chronic or it’s negative, we start to slide. It can cause severe anxiety and chronic anxiety for people, depression. Certainly, from a workplace perspective, that’s absenteeism, presenteeism, decrease in performance and productivity.”
How HR can help
But what can leaders and HR professionals do to help manage a potential crisis?
It begins by fixing the culture around overworking, says MacDonald.
“You can get things done a lot faster when you have a great culture because people want to do it for you, versus pushing out strategies down their throats. So really create that mentally healthy culture, and understand that, so really get the support to put that in place.”
“The culture needs to be a component of HR’s overall focus on health and wellness and that psychological safety foundation,” she says.
A lot of times, HR throws apps or programs at individuals, says MacDonald, and that’s not the right approach.
“We’re really just addressing the symptoms, and not recognizing that the culture really underpins all these things. You can have all the gym memberships in the world but if your culture is either toxic one or a negative one, then that’ll have very little impact on an individual’s health and wellbeing,” she says.
For leaders, look to your own behaviour, says Dimaano.
“If you lead by example, show your employees how you take care of yourself, how you manage stress, I think that goes a long way.”
