"People are getting calls from credit card companies. They're overextended, they're worried about eviction," he said.
That can lead to depression and difficulties at home, and some employees may turn to alcohol or drugs to help cope with the strain. All of these problems can affect how they act and perform at work and can also have an effect on co-workers and the work flow.
Debnam said the solution in such cases is to talk to the employee about what's going on and let him or her know that there are services available to provide help. If the company has contracted with an employee assistance provider, the staffer can be referred for financial counseling and aid as well as mental health and addiction services. If the business has no employee assistance provider, the owner should find out what community resources are available.
Debnam suggests owners take an understanding but firm approach when an employee's stress is affecting the workplace.
"Let the employee know that you care, that you're available," he said, but if there are angry outbursts or other forms of acting out, "you can say, 'That reaction was over the top. Maybe you should take the afternoon off.' "
In such cases, staffers need to be told that they have to deal with their problems and not bring them to work.
Some owners are dealing with stress caused by higher gas prices.
Cline Waddell, who owns an Assisting Hands home care franchise in Boise, Idaho, has had employees tell him they can't afford to fill their gas tanks to take care of clients, who often live in rural areas some distance away.
Waddell has 65 employees who work as caregivers. He's given them gas cards and reworked schedules so their stops are closer together.
But the stress is financial and emotional.
"It's wearing on the caregivers and wearing on the business," Waddell said.
