The World Health Organization considers stress as the health epidemic of the 21st century. Chronic and high levels of stress can lead to heart diseases, high blood pressure, weakened immune functions, impaired cognitive performance, and problems in metabolism, among others. Nearly half of the workforce report suffering moderate to severe stress at work, and this is alarming as it has tremendous and encompassing effect on individuals, families, and organizations. Stress is one of the major causes of absenteeism and turnover in companies, costing American businesses up to $300.
