Managing Stress During Organizational Change

1. Managing Stress During Organizational Change KRS Consulting Kathryn, Rochelle & Sadrika

2. History of KRS Consulting • We have been in business for over 5 years together. • We each hold Masters Degrees from the University of New Haven. • We have consulted for various organizations such as Google, Goldman Sach’s, Hartford Life Insurance Company & PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

3. Objectives • Discuss why we were hired by Pfizer. • Discuss stress and the top identifying factors. • Ways to reduce stress in the workplace and in your daily life. • Where do we go from here?

4. What has happened? • February, 2011 Announcements • Site closure – Sandwich, U.K. • All Research units relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts • No site identified • 25% reduction in headcount • March, 2011 • Statistics research units are divided. • Two have no funding • In 2012, 35% reduction in Research • April, 2011 • Plans underway to move Cardiovascular, Endocrinology, Metabolic Diseases from Groton to former Wyeth building, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

5. What has happened? • August, 2011 • Site identified, yet to be constructed on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Campus • Pfizer will rent this space. • Neuroscience will relocate to former Wyeth location Second Quarter 2012 • All Research Units will move again in 2013 when the MIT building is constructed.

6. Sample Survey Questions • How many alcoholic beverages do you have per day? • How many hours do you sleep per night? • How many times do you exercise per week? • How many times have you been absent within the past month due to illness e.g. headaches, back-aches, colds, fatigue?

7. Survey Results July 2010 July 2011

8. Let’s discuss what the results say • Employees are more stressed than they were a year ago. • Researched findings have concluded that Production has decreased • Employees are engaging in stressful behaviors • Employees are not as confident about the organization as the prior year

9. Let’s talk about Stress! Stress is the experience of a perceived threat (real or imagined) to one’s mental, physical, or spiritual well-being, resulting from a series of physiological responses and adaptations. Your body is hard wired to react to stress in ways meant to protect it against threats from predators and other aggressors. Your body treats the daily hassles as threats and if your mind and body are constantly on a edge than your body is constantly in an alarmed state (Fight/ Flight) The long term activation of the stress response system and overexposure to Cortisol which is the stress hormone and increase your changes of developing numerous health problems. All of your systems are affected by stress: Nervous, Endocrine, Respiratory, Cardiovasular, Immune, Digestive & Muscular- Skeletal

10. Stress and Your Body • Increased Alcohol consumption • Fatigue or Exhaustion • Cardio-Pulmonary Disease. • Insomnia/ Hypersomnia • Sadness/Depression • Feelings of Hopelessness • Frequent Colds and Infections • Indigestion • Diarrhea, spastic colon or intestinal disorder • Symptoms of Ulcers • Gritting & Grinding teeth • Panic Attacks • Excess Anxiety, Worry, Guilt, Nervousness • Back and Neck Pain • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Eye Strain • Headaches and Migraines • Diabetes • Hypertension • Tight Neck / Shoulders

11. What does this mean? Our primary focus here today is to educate you in ways to manage stress Ways to reduce stress in your life…. • Journaling • Meditation • Yoga • Physical Exercise • Breathing Exercises • Eating a Balanced Diet • Time Management

12. Stress and Your Job • Reduced Work Efficiency • Increased Frustration • Problems in Communicating • Increased Number of Working Related Accidents • Feeling Overloaded and Overwhelmed • Difficulty Concentrating • Racing Thoughts • Trouble Learning New Information • Difficulty in Making Decisions • Social Withdrawal and Isolation • Forgetfulness • Disorganization

13. Proof of Interventions reducing stress in the workplace • Air Force did a large meta analysis and found that a healthy lifestyle , protects people from the effects of stress Meditation reduces Stress and Anxiety • Medical Research shows that Sleep ,rest and relaxation inversely correlate to Stress • Medical Research by Dean Ornish, M.D. found that Diet, Exercise and Stress Management contribute to lowering Coronary risk, the largest killer

14. Workplace Health Promotion gives large return on investment • DuPont factor of 1.4; • Travelers factor of 3.4 for every dollar invest • Workplace Health Promotion gives large return on investment • Aromatherapy reduces stress (study at RPI, 1993 • Psychiatric Research has proved that Mental well-being strategies, including workshop, counteract the consequences of stress in the workplace

15. The Intervention • Our goal today is to teach you techniques to reduce your stress • We are going to introduce you to 3 different Stress Techniques that are proven to reduce your stress • Journaling, Yoga and Meditation Our Goal:

16. Journaling • Journal Writing is a coping technique; expression of thoughts, feelings, memories, and ideas in written form to increase self- awareness. • Having a journal can help relieve stress through writing about irritations, which can guide you to work through issues • Writing about personally experienced stressors or traumatic events has been associated with improvements in mental and physical health. • The expression of emotion is beneficial to mental health whereas the inhibition of emotion is harmful.

17. Journal writing is one of the most effective coping skills available to provide profound internal vision and enhance the self-awareness process. • It initiates the communication of self-reflection between the mind and the soul which is the necessary first step in the resolution and closure of perceived stress. • Self Expression through journal writing may serve as an emotional catharsis by getting out on paper the toxic thoughts roaming through one’s head. • It allows the release of thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that liberates the mind.

18. Successful Journal Writing Tips: • What you will need: A notebook dedicated solely to journaling, pen or pencil and a quiet environment • Try to identify those concerns and problems that cause the most frustration, grief or tension • Ask yourself what emotions are elicited when these stressors are encountered • Allow the writing process to augment your creative process to further resolution • Centering – Before you write take a moment to relax • Write whatever may come to your mind

19. Yoga • Yoga is an ancient form of exercise that can reduce stress and relieve muscular tension or pain. • Practicing yoga at the workplace teaches employees to use relaxation techniques to reduce stress and risks of injury on the job. • Yoga at the workplace is a convenient and practical outlet that improves work performance by relieving tension and job stress. • Practicing yoga has been shown to reduce pain, relieve tension, reduce risks of injury, improve posture, improve communication, increase energy and attention span, and enhance feelings of overall wellness and well-being.

20. Yoga • In comparison to job stress, yoga has a dramatic and opposite effect on the body: • Decreased heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. • Yoga at work is a convenient and practical needed outlet for work-related stressors. • Yoga at work teaches employees relaxation techniques to decrease tension and pain as well as prevention strategies to reduce risks of injury on the job, thereby improving work performance. • Being mindful of the body helps break the poor postural habits and encourages rest breaks from repetitive motions that may contribute to pain • Yoga techniques are prevention skills for life.

21. Meditation • Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. • It was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. • Today it is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction.

22. Meditation Guided Meditation • Focused Attention • Relaxed Breathing • A Quiet Setting • A Comfortable Position • Breathe Deeply • Scan your Body

23. Where do you go from here? • We have with the help of your organization created Relaxation Ready Rooms (RRR) • Employees will be given 30 minutes each day to go into the Relaxation Room • You will be given the opportunity to practice Yoga, Meditation and Journaling.

24. RelaxationReady Rooms

25. Overview • Pfizer is here to assist their employees in managing stress. • To demonstrate how they care about their employees and their commitment to the well-being of their employees. • Stress can be very detrimental to your health if not addressed. • Employees are encouraged to utilize the Relaxation Ready Rooms on a daily basis.

26. Q&A