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Stressthe responses our bodies and minds have to the demands placed on themis
a normal part of life and a normal part of any job. Without stress, we wouldnt
meet deadlines, strive to hit sales or production targets, or line up new clients.
Meeting the demands and challenges of a job is part of what makes work
interesting and satisfying, and its often what allows people to develop new skills
and advance in their careers. In the workplace, we regularly experience stress-
causing situations, react to them with heightened tension, then return to a more
relaxed state when the crisis, big or small, is resolved. However, problems occur
when stress is so overwhelming or constant that the tension never abates and we
never get to relax.
When stress crosses the line from normal to excessive, it can trigger physical and
emotional responses that are harmful to employees and businesses alike. And
unfortunately, for many people stress has become synonymous with work.
Some jobs are stressful by definition because theyre physically dangerous (such as
firefighting or criminal justice), involve matters of life and death (emergency
functions), or are psychologically demanding (social work, teaching). But people
who stamp metal or crunch numbers can also be subject to stress on the job.
Workplace stress is usually the result of high demands on the job, real or perceived
lack of control concerning those demands, poor day-to-day organization and
communication, and an unsupportive work environment.
The following chart lays out many of the factors that lead to job stress:
Factors that Lead to Job Stress
There is a clear connection between workplace stress and physical and emotional
problems. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
early warning signs of job stress include:
Headache
Sleep disturbance
Upset stomach
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Low morale
Poor relations with family and friends
While these early signs are relatively easy to recognize, it may be harder to see
how job stress affects chronic health problems, since chronic conditions develop
over time and may be influenced by factors other than stress. Still, evidence
suggests that workplace stress plays an important role in several types of ongoing
health problems, especially:
Cardiovascular disease
Musculoskeletal conditions
Psychological disorders
Stress on the job creates high costs for businesses and institutions, reducing
morale, productivity, and earnings. Clearly, it is in every employers best interests
fiscal and otherwiseto reduce workplace stress as much as possible. Businesses
can lower and prevent job stress through two methods:
Stress Management
Nearly half of large American corporations provide their employees with stress
management training and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). EAPs are designed
to help workers with personal problems that may be adversely affecting their on-
the-job performance. The confidential services include counseling, mental health
assessment and referrals, workshops on topics such as time management and
relaxation, and legal and financial assistance.
Organizational change
While EAPs can be very beneficial to workers, the relief they provide may be
superficial and short-lived if important root causes of stress in the work
environment are not addressed. Lasting stress reduction is brought about by
institutional change. Managers are the key holders of corporate culture, Michael
Peterson, a professor at University of Delaware, told FDU magazine. They
perpetuate it. While stress management techniques like yoga are great, he said,
if your boss is draconian, exercise is not going to help.
Look at the table below for a list of ways in which an organization can foster low
levels of job stress and high levels of productivity:
While organizational change comes from management, there are still many things
employeesindividually or collectivelycan do to reduce workplace stress.
Get time away. If you feel stress building, take a break. Walk away from
the situation. Take a stroll around the block, sit on a park bench, or spend a
few minutes meditating. Exercise does wonders for the psyche. But even
just finding a quiet place and listening to your iPod can reduce stress.
Talk it out. Sometimes the best stress-reducer is simply sharing your stress
with someone close to you. The act of talking it out and getting support
and empathy from someone else is often an excellent way of blowing off
steam and reducing stress.
Cultivate allies at work. Just knowing you have one or more co-workers
who are willing to assist you in times of stress will reduce your stress level.
Just remember to reciprocate and help them when they are in need.
Find humor in the situation. When you or the people around you start
taking things too seriously, find a way to break through with laughter. Share
a joke or funny story.