We can’t eliminate stress, but we can take steps to manage its impact.
Each April during Stress Awareness Month, we sit down with Alliant National’s HR Director Stacy Stolen to explore how we can all manage stress more effectively. This is an important conversation because too much stress can negatively impact both individuals and organizations. Having worked for years in HR and compliance, Stolen is no stranger to helping mitigate stress in the workplace. She shares ideas that can help you reduce stress in your agency and build the kind of workplace your team will love.
Confronting the pervasive problem of stress
According to Stolen, stress is a major problem in workplaces today, and available data supports this view. In a recent “McKinsey Health Institute survey of more than 30,000 employees worldwide, only 57% reported good holistic health.”[i] Given the scope of the problem, business leaders have a vested interest in helping employees manage their stress levels. Not only is it the right thing to do, but unchecked stress can have a negative effect on worker performance. Recent survey data, in fact, showed 60% of respondents indicating that high stress harmed their output. [ii] None of this should really be surprising according to Stolen. After all, she said, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
Reframing how we respond to stress
Stress should always be taken seriously—but that doesn’t mean avoiding it. It means learning how to manage it. The fact is stress is often little more than the body’s response to change. And “change—whether in your personal life or at work—can be stressful but also an opportunity for growth,” said Stolen. If stress can’t be avoided, Stolen said, “how you respond makes all the difference.” She then continued by noting that “Small, consistent efforts to care for your mental and physical well-being can help you thrive—even in challenging times.”
Putting wellness at the heart of culture pays off
So how can workplaces help employees rethink and manage stress? There are really too many to count. Mindfulness programs. Fitness incentives. Mental health support groups. Flexible work options. Financial literary workshops. Healthy living perks. These are just a few examples, but there are many more.
The ROI of these programs speaks for itself. Companies often see a return of $4 for every $1 invested in mental health treatment.[iii] Results like this are often attributed primarily to increased productivity and reduced absenteeism. Additionally, mindfulness programs can reduce employee stress by 30% says the National Institute of Health,[iv] while another study found workplace flexibility programs can generate over 25% less employee stress.[v]
Alliant National is committed to being part of the solution
Alliant National has long taken such figures to heart and has put stress awareness and employee wellness at the heart of its working culture. Some of the specific initiatives and programs it uses to advance these goals include:
- The Alliant National Employee Engagement Team (EET), which aims to boost engagement, foster personal commitment and motivation, and support fair compensation.
- Mental Health Challenges, which are designed to encourage employees to use their available PTO to rest and recharge.
- The Alliant National Employee Assistance Program, which is multifaceted support program intended to assist employees with navigating issues related to work, money, legal issues, identity theft, physical and emotional wellbeing and more.
- All staff wellness challenges.
- Mental Health Awareness month activities revolving around work/life balance and sharing mental health resources.
- HR-led meetings focusing squarely on mental health support.
- Ongoing segments on company calls designed to foster laughter, goodwill, camaraderie, and stress relief.
- And more.
In 2025, Alliant National continued adding to its stress awareness and employee wellbeing efforts. It recently hosted guest speaker Josh Emery, a renowned therapist, consultant and coach, who spoke to the Alliant National team about the role stress plays in our lives and how we can stay on top of its impacts.
Managing stress is the key to unlocking a brighter future It is impossible to avoid experiencing some level of stress. After all, stress is a part of any change, which, as we all know, is the only constant in life. But if we can’t stop stress, what do we do to reduce its effects? This is a deeply important question, especially for businesses whose productivity and profitability are firmly in the crosshairs whenever employees become overstressed. The answer, however, is a simple one. Workplaces only need to take small, gradual steps to confront stress. Over time, this will build a culture that helps employees mitigate stress’s effects and continue working harmoniously. When done successfully, the results can be transformative and pave the way for lucrative, long-term growth and achievement
[i] How employers can create a thriving workplace | McKinsey
[ii] The Hidden Cost of Workplace Stress: Impact on Employees and Productivity | Everything Disc
[iii] Mental health matters – The Lancet Global Health
[iv] Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on employees’ mental health: A systematic review – PMC
[v] Survey study shows workers with more flexibility and job security have better mental health
