Final answer:
To manage stress in the workplace, effective strategies include exercise, meditation and relaxation, and biofeedback. A supportive workplace culture that ensures work-life balance is also crucial for stress reduction. Companies have implemented policies to support this balance, with some providing job-guaranteed leave and other services to assist employees.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are a variety of stress reduction techniques that can help alleviate tension in the workplace. A widely endorsed method is exercise, which has been documented to benefit both physical and mental health, building resilience against stress effects and aiding in recovery. Additionally, meditation and relaxation practices, including techniques such as Buddhist meditation, are recognized for their stress-relieving benefits. Moreover, biofeedback is an advanced technique that uses electronic monitoring to train individuals to control body functions that are normally involuntary, like heart rate, with an aim to improve health and reduce stress levels.
Workplace culture significantly influences stress levels, hence fostering a positive environment is crucial. This may include creating support networks among colleagues, ensuring a balance between work and personal life, and promoting policies that support employees' well-being (e.g., flextime, telecommuting). Companies like IBM, Lucent Technologies, and SC Johnson have been highlighted for their policies designed to reduce work-family conflict, such as job-guaranteed leave after childbirth and concierge services for errands.