What is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Companies want their employees to work to their potential, to have high productivity and low absenteeism. Research has shown that workers produce more when they are satisfied with their occupational role, which is dependent on a number of factors, including job control, job reward, and creating a work culture that values and responds to employee feedback. It is time for employers to develop comprehensive workplace wellness programs that incorporate a mental health component, including stress reduction programs. Stress management activities need to be integrated into the everyday life of the company, with strong, visible support from the firm's leadership. The Job-Demand Resources (JD-R) Model of stress management in the workplace provides a solid theoretical underpinning for workplace wellness programs, and enables companies to tailor stress management assessments and interventions to their industry and jobsite. EAPs should make promotion of their counseling services and accessibility to these services a higher priority so as to improve employee usage rates, which are currently quite low.