Stress is a normal part of life but too much of it can have a negative effect on your team’s morale and productivity. It can also have a major effect on your bottom line. According to a Harvard study, workplace stress costs U.S. businesses $30 billion a year in lost workdays and employee turnover. Set your employees up for success (and run a profitable business) by trying some of the steps below to reduce stress in your office.

Encourage Breaks

It is important for employees to step away from their desks throughout the day, even it’s just a short break to eat a snack or take a walk. Encouraging use of vacation time (and making it easy to use) will also help your team to come back less stressed and more productive.

Offer Calming Activities

Schedule meditation or yoga classes throughout the work week to give employees the chance to relax and clear their minds. If you don’t have the space for these activities in your office space, partner with a local fitness studio to offer memberships for your team to go after work or during breaks.

Change Up the Scenery

Hosting offsite activities helps your employees to step out of their daily routine. Weather it’s a team meeting at a nearby restaurant, volunteering with a local organization or a company barbecue over lunch, getting a change of scenery will help reduce stress and build personal connections.

Implement Flexible Work Schedules

The demands of a busy work and home life can quickly become overwhelming. Allowing employees to have a flexible schedule will help them to balance life and attend special events. In return, they will be more present when they’re in the office. If your employees can perform work remotely, consider offering work from home days to accommodate family schedules and reduce the hours wasted in traffic.

Facilitate Open Communication

Regularly set aside time to check with your team about stress levels and what is triggering that stress. In addition to showing that you care about their well-being, open communication will help to get feedback and make changes if needed.

There are many ways that you can create a healthy workplace and make your employees happier. By facilitating some of these changes, your team will in turn be less stressed, improving their work performance and your bottom line.