3 Ways VoIP Helps Ease Workplace Stress
It’s normal to experience some stress in the workplace. But whether the cause of stress is trivial (such as dysfunctional copy machines) or a much bigger one (such as conflict with customers or co-workers), it’s a fact that stress can significantly affect an employee’s morale and productivity. And everyone knows that unhappy and unproductive employees also translate to an unimpressive bottom line for companies.
With this in mind, it’s important for managers and business owners to implement measures that help promote a stress-free work environment. This may come as a surprise for companies, but using VoIP technology in the workplace is actually one way to relieve employee stress and help workers become happier, healthier, and more productive.
So how exactly does VoIP technology help you accomplish such a Herculean task? Here are three ways.
VoIP supports remote working
A 2014 study of the employees at Chinese travel website Ctrip revealed that in comparison to workers who came into the office, remote employees were happier, more productive, and less likely to quit. The increase in productivity is attributed to the fact that people who work from home don’t commute, take shorter breaks, have less distractions, and worked more hours. Despite the data, some companies are hesitant to adopt a remote work policy, thinking that it will be difficult to reach employees who are out of the office.
VoIP technology effectively addresses such concerns. A variety of VoIP features supports a mobile, more flexible style of work. These include Find Me/Follow Me (calls are routed to a sequence of numbers or devices to ensure a call doesn’t go unanswered), Voicemail-to-Email (voicemails are sent as email attachments, so employees don’t need to check their voicemail box to see who called), Mobile Apps (helps employees stay connected anywhere and anytime by simply using their smartphone), and Video Conferencing (hold meetings or collaborate with employees minus the travel costs). By working remotely, employees can create their personal work spaces, avoid needless office drama, and even stretch their legs as needed -- which are all proven stress relievers.
Calls can be effectively managed
A busy phone usually means that business is finally picking up. But while this can be a good sign, phones that won’t stop ringing can also bring stress to your employees. They may be unable to keep up with the ongoing flow of calls and they may no longer be able to communicate with clients effectively. Fortunately, VoIP phone systems come with a range of features that can help handle and manage calls more efficiently.
Auto-attendants help route inbound callers to the right department or people without the help of a physical operator. Caller ID lets employees screen calls to determine whether they could answer a call or not at the moment. Do Not Disturb directs callers to voicemail when an employee has more urgent tasks at hand. Another helpful feature is Call Queue, which acts as a virtual waiting room for callers while they wait for an agent to answer. All these features help workers manage calls and stay focused on their jobs (and less on office stress).
VoIP lets employees check in even when on vacation
Taking time away from the office can also be stressful for some. Imagine all the emails, voicemails and piles of work that are about to welcome you after your vacation. With VoIP, employees on a holiday don’t have to be disturbed by the nagging thought that they’re missing out on something. The beauty of VoIP is that employees can stay in the loop anywhere there’s internet.
Employees who want to check their voicemail or make and receive important phone calls while on a vacation (regardless if they’re in or out of the country) can easily do so through various VoIP mobility features. Voicemail-to-Email lets employees listen to voicemails anywhere as they are sent as MP3 files to one’s email. Voicemail Transcription, meanwhile, transcribes voicemails to text, avoiding miscommunication.
Stress is inevitable in the workplace, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it. By tapping VoIP technology, business owners and managers can help eliminate employee stress and create a more positive and stress-free work environment.