Sandals Negril easing staff stress

SANDALS NEGRIL Beach Resort and Spa realises how important it is to address mental stress at the workplace.

"We run the risk of adversely affecting our bottom line because of loss of working days each year," said Rodcliff Robertson, human resources and training manager of the resort.

Based on an informal survey done by Mr. Robertson and his team, information was garnered that one of the major causes of stress in the workplace was the heightened pace of change in the modern environment coupled with economic challenges and unstable family life.

In an attempt to safeguard the staff from the negative consequences of stress ­ feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke ­ the resort has implemented an informal Stress Support Programme.

ADDRESSING STRESS

CONTRIBUTED Staff of Sandals Negril working out in the gym as part of the hotel's stress management programme.

Through this programme, team members are educated on how to identify stressors in their life and ways to determine how their bodies respond to these pressures at both the physical and emotional levels.

Ongoing tips are also provided on how best to avoid or eliminate these stressors with support mechanisms.

These include a staff gym opened 24 hours a day where staff can go to work out not only to maintain their bodies but also to relieve stress; allotted intermittent breaks in the work schedule; ongoing training sessions; trained personnel to whom the team members can go just to discuss their problems, whether work or home-related; and off-property field trips which serve to take team members away from the everyday stress of work.

Additionally, the resort, in collaboration with the Hanover Health Department and other Not-for Profit organisations, offers on-property health clinics at various times throughout the year, offering free blood sugar and blood pressure checks, along with other services at a minimal cost, ensuring staff do not lose time in their work schedules and incur unnecessary medical costs.

"This has already resulted in a decrease, though marginal, in absenteeism," said the human resources manager. He estimates that over time, the resort will benefit from a 15 per cent decrease in costs accrued from absenteeism associated with mental health issues.