Today’s manufacturing workers are under enormous stress from the aftereffects of the pandemic, inflation, and overall global uncertainty. This combination has created a workforce that is less engaged and far more likely to quit or perform the bare minimum needed to keep their jobs. This can have a devastating impact on workplace safety and product quality. 

Employee stress can also include common issues like transportation, housing, and basic money management. Physical and mental health also play a major role. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for younger workers entering the workforce for the first time and immigrant populations new to the U.S. labor market to lack the life skills to manage their health, finances, and housing.

Your employees are probably bringing these stresses to work with them. Their problems at home can become your problems at work. That’s why it’s vital to help alleviate these outside stressors and help your employees become more engaged and productive at work and home.  

Recognizing the importance of employee well-being, Intertek Alchemy has developed new training courses that address many of these stresses. Here’s a quick snapshot of those courses and what you can do to help keep your employees happy and healthy at home and work.

Physical and Mental Health and Well-being
Physical and mental wellness go hand in hand. Unfortunately, many workers lack the resources and information needed to sustain healthy lifestyles. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year. And based on statistics from the CDC, nearly half of adults in America suffer from hypertension. 

You can help train your employees to develop habits that boost their physical health, including preventive care, physical fitness, and diet changes. Exercise will strengthen their immune systems, reduce stress and improve their sleep. And make your training program about more than work. Provide learning materials that stress the importance of regular medical checkups and immunizations and getting better sleep by setting aside phones, TVs, and other electronic devices before bedtime. And encourage them to always ask for help when they need it.

Goals and Time Management
Employees can become frustrated and burn out when they feel like they’re always running behind and chasing unattainable goals. Good time management training starts with goals. Utilize adult learning materials that help your employees understand what they want to accomplish and devise a plan to get there. For example, Intertek Alchemy’s course helps them brainstorm what they want to achieve or experience and set realistic deadlines. The training includes topics like  SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound with clear target dates.

Money, Credit, and Debt Management
Money management is a huge worry and distraction for nearly everyone these days. You can reduce this stress by teaching employees the basics of setting up a bank account, building an emergency fund, putting together a budget, and making spending decisions that support a healthy financial future.

Because many schools don’t teach money management, first-time workers must learn how to handle money to pay bills, prepare for financial emergencies, set up checking and savings accounts, and develop good spending and saving habits. Training can help cover the basics of personal financial management.

Housing Basics
Many first-time workers are finding their first homes at a time when rents are at record highs. More than 5 million of the nation’s households remain behind on their rent. Renting or owning a home can be a stressful experience. You can help reduce that stress with training that teaches employees about housing basics, like comparing different housing options, providing an overview of renters’ rights, and covering what steps to take when leasing or buying a home.

Transportation Basics
Anyone with a reliable car can quickly take for granted how stressful it is to get to and from work on time. Public transportation routes and schedules can be complex and time-consuming. Rideshares can be wildly expensive. What might be a 30-minute drive to work in a car can take two hours on a bus route. And sometimes, the bus doesn’t stop near the manufacturing plant. That’s why it’s important to train employees how to navigate their transportation options to and from work.

If you want a team of employees who are less stressed and highly focused, consider helping them reduce their challenges outside of work. Intertek Alchemy has a suite of employee well-being courses that address the stressors discussed above. Contact us to learn how to incorporate them into your HR training program.