Above-average stress leads to many more symptoms that undermine employees' job performance, Keas said. Among the effects of stress, as reported by the survey group:

Stress leads to disengagement. More than three in four employees reported feeling unenthusiastic/disengaged or only generally satisfied with their job.
Drinking to wind down. Sixty-six percent say they regularly drink alcohol (beer, wine or liquor/cocktails) .

On the other hand, if employee stress can just be dialed back from "above average" to "average," workers felt happier on the job, more engaged and more productive. Consider these response numbers from those with average work stress:

48 percent say they are excited about and engaged in their jobs, and only 2 percent are disengaged.
96 percent say they're happy at work and 79 percent say they're generally or extremely happy in life.
30 percent are getting enough sleep every night and only 8 percent say work issues keep them awake.
40 percent who have average stress levels say they don't drink alcohol.

"Employee stress needs to be a greater part of the conversation around workplace health," said Josh Stevens, Keas CEO. "As employers re-evaluate their health programs for employees and begin developing a culture of health, they must also consider how stress prevention fits into the bigger picture. Major health issues associated with stress cause problems that ultimately affect the bottom line. Identifying what causes stress and providing resources to help mitigate the negative effects can be the difference between a healthy, engaged and productive workforce and the less-than-ideal alternative."

Instant Insights /

Women more than twice as stressed at work than men

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