Ad hoc measures are not enough. To create a sustainable work environment and reduce stress, employers need to adopt a holistic approach and implement measures at three levels: individual, managerial, and organisational. This is the conclusion of new research from the University of Skövde.
New research from the University of Skövde reveals that stress cannot be managed through isolated efforts.
Stress at work is not only associated with discomfort – ultimately, it is literally a matter of life and death. Statistics from the Swedish Work Environment Authority show that approximately 700 people die annually in Sweden due to work-related stress. The most common causes of death associated with prolonged and excessive stress are heart attacks, strokes, cerebral haemorrhages, and heart failure.
The hospitality industry is a sector often characterised by both physical and mental stress. Long working hours, high demands for emotional engagement, and constant customer interaction make it challenging for employees to manage their workload.
Ad hoc measures are insufficient
In a recent study, researchers at the University of Skövde examined what makes employees in the hospitality industry stressed, how they manage stress, and what support employers provide to reduce it. One of the key insights from the research is that stress cannot be managed through isolated measures.
"To achieve long-term results, employers need to consider the whole picture and work across all levels of the organisation: individual, managerial, and organisational," says Danilo Brozović, Senior Lecturer in Business Administration at the University of Skövde and one of the researchers behind the study.
Coordinated and continuous efforts are required
To create a sustainable workplace, both managers and employees need support. Managers play a crucial role in promoting health and creating an inclusive work climate, which reduces stress for employees. To facilitate this, they should be trained on how to contribute to employees’ well-being. At the individual level, employees need tools to handle stress, such as training in stress management and support for personal development.
At the same time, organisations must work continuously to ensure security, fairness, and work-life balance. When these levels work together, the chances of reducing stress and creating a sustainable work environment increase.
Danilo Brozović has demonstrated through his research that continuous and synchronised efforts are required to counteract stress in the workplace.
The findings confirm previous research, but earlier studies have focused on individual measures, such as the right type of leadership, fair working conditions, or work-life balance for employees. The researchers behind this study demonstrate that these measures are interconnected and that employees' health and well-being are strengthened through continuous and synchronised efforts, which also include their own participation.
"Employees' well-being at work is important because it contributes to their quality of life, productivity, and overall health. If employees do not feel well at work, it can lead to reduced productivity, higher turnover, and increased costs related to deteriorating health," says Danilo Brozović.
Findings relevant to multiple sectors
Although the study focuses on the hospitality industry, Danilo Brozović argues that the findings can be applied to other sectors, particularly those with similar conditions, even though the measures are often general and work across industries.
"Most measures that help reduce stress and improve health are general. For example, it is reasonable to assume that poor HR practices or unpleasant colleagues contribute to stress in any work environment," says Danilo Brozović.
More about the research
The study Well-being of hospitality employees: A systematic literature review was published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management.
