It’s common for employees to experience stress in the workplace. It may stem from the nature of the job itself, like careers with high injury rates, or factors related to:

• Environment
• Safety
• Culture & dynamics
• Leadership support

While stress isn’t altogether avoidable, employers can help employees navigate workplace complexities and manage compound stressors with well-being-centered solutions.

A Holistic Approach for Employers to Reduce Stress in the Workplace

In this post:

1. Viewing the Reduction of Stress Across the Eight Dimensions of Wellness

2. Aligning the Organization’s Policies & Procedures with the Organization’s Mission

a. Culture of Recognition
b. Define/create a sense of purpose
c. Commitment to employee growth and progression
d. Transparency
e. Flexible work policies
f. Setting boundaries around time outside of work

3. Encourage workplace wellness

a. Break up the day with stretch breaks and exercise classes
b. Provide mindfulness training
c. Help employees foster relationships while doing de-stressing activities

4. Implementing a Workplace Wellness Program

Viewing the Reduction of Stress Across the Eight Dimensions of Wellness

While stress certainly takes a toll physically, several other factors influence overall well-being. There are eight interconnecting dimensions of wellness:

• Physical
  • Care & maintenance of the body (diet, exercise, sleep)
• Social
  • Connection & relationship with others
• Emotional
  • Understanding, navigating, & communicating emotions (stress management)
• Occupational
  • Finding enrichment through personal/professional means
• Financial
  • Living within a person’s means/planning for the future
•  Spiritual
  • Connection to a person’s life purpose/higher power
•  Intellectual
  • Open to experiences/opportunities that stimulate the mind
•  Environmental
  • A work environment that promotes wellness/sustainable practices

Well-being is multifaceted and interconnected — for example, struggling with spiritual or emotional health can manifest as stress in the physical body. Employers intending to relieve stress in their organizations can create policies, procedures, and a culture that cultivates wellness to target each aspect of employee well-being.

Aligning the Organization’s Policies & Procedures with the Organization’s Mission

Culture of Recognition

Negative reinforcement and hard-to-access communication channels undermine morale and productivity. In contrast, a culture of recognition reinforces trust, motivation, and retention. Acknowledging milestones, celebrating wins, both large and small, and encouraging peer-to-peer recognition help replace stress with satisfaction.

Over time, recognition becomes part of daily culture rather than a formal initiative. This type of environment supports psychological safety and complements broader workplace mental health programs by reinforcing appreciation, belonging, and emotional support at every level of the organization.

Define and Create a Sense of Purpose

A clear mission or vision gives employees direction. When policies and procedures reflect a strong understanding of how each role contributes to that mission, employees are more likely to feel engaged and invested.

Employees who understand their purpose see their work as meaningful, not transactional. That sense of impact helps reduce disengagement and supports resilience during periods of stress or change.

Commitment to Employee Growth and Progression

Organizations that prioritize growth send a clear message: employees are valued for who they are and who they can become. Encouraging a growth mindset through learning opportunities, mentorship, and transparent advancement paths helps employees feel more in control of their careers and overall well-being.

Supporting development through training, job shadowing, and regular performance feedback also reduces uncertainty, a common contributor to workplace stress. When employees feel supported by leadership and peers, they’re more likely to stay engaged and motivated.

Transparency

Ambiguity creates stress. When employees sense issues beneath the surface that go unaddressed, trust erodes quickly. Transparent leadership counters this by encouraging open dialogue, answering questions honestly, and sharing expectations, challenges, and progress.

Clear communication reduces speculation and helps employees feel secure in their role and contributions — an essential element of a healthy workplace culture.

Flexible Work Policies

Rigid schedules and unrealistic expectations are a common source of burnout. Flexible work policies such as adaptable hours, hybrid work options, or additional breaks can significantly improve morale, productivity, and retention.

Flexibility allows employees to manage responsibilities outside of work without constant strain. For example, an employee who can adjust their schedule for childcare gains autonomy and peace of mind, eliminating stress that would otherwise spill into their workday.

Setting Boundaries Around Time Outside Work

The expectation to stay constantly connected can take a toll on both health and performance. Encouraging employees to fully disconnect outside work hours supports recovery and long-term productivity.

Organizations can reinforce healthy boundaries by setting norms around response times, redistributing workloads when needed, and educating employees on how to unplug from work. Allowing the mind and body to recharge helps employees return focused, energized, and engaged.

Encourage Workplace Wellness

Policies alone can’t offset compounding stressors. Employees need access to tools, resources, and time to actively manage their well-being. Workplace wellness initiatives help translate supportive policies into daily habits.

Break Up the Day With Stretch Breaks and Exercise Classes

Movement throughout the workday supports both physical and mental health. Stretch breaks and exercise classes improve circulation, sharpen focus, and boost mood — whether employees work at desks, in healthcare settings, or on job sites.

Without regular movement, muscles shorten and tighten, increasing the risk of pain and injury. Musculoskeletal programming such as stretching, strength training, and ergonomics workshops help improve mobility and reduce strain.

Provide Mindfulness Training

Instructor-led mindfulness and meditation training equips employees with practical tools to manage stress more effectively. These practices improve focus, memory, and emotional regulation while helping employees maintain perspective during demanding periods.

Mindfulness has been shown to:

• Reduce depression relapse rates
• Improve daily functioning for individuals with chronic pain
• Lower hospitalization rates for heart disease
• Support long-term cognitive health

These benefits make mindfulness a valuable component of comprehensive stress management programs for employees.

Help Employees Foster Relationships While Doing Stress Management Activities

Stress management is more effective when employees participate together. Group-based offerings, such as yoga, stretching, wellness coaching, or chair massage, encourage connection while reducing stress.

Shared wellness experiences build camaraderie, normalize self-care, and strengthen team relationships, reinforcing both social and emotional well-being.

Implementing a Workplace Wellness Program with Strive

Implementing a wellness program is a holistic way to support employees while strengthening the company culture. When teams practice healthy behaviors together, organizations often see improvements in recruitment, retention, productivity, and safety — even in physically demanding environments.

Strive offers turnkey wellness solutions that support stress management across multiple wellness pillars. Our employee-first programs are designed to build culture while minimizing administrative burden through dedicated program coordinators and seamless systems for scheduling, waivers, and data tracking.

Ready to explore which wellness options align with your organization’s goals? Book a discovery call to get started.