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Understanding
workplace
stress
And taking chargeAdapted from:
Canada’s National
Occupational Health and
Safety Resource
What is workplace stress?
» Conflict between job demands on
the employee and the amount of
control the employee has over
meeting those demands.
» High demands and low control at
work result in stress.
Characteristics of
workplace stress» Fear of job redundancy
» Layoffs
» Increased demands due to staff cutbacks
or insufficient qualified staff
» Pressure to perform with decreased job
satisfaction
» Constant demands to work at optimum
performance
Effects of workplace stress» Job dissatisfaction
» Employee turnover
» Reduced efficiency
» Illness, sometimes leading to death
» Absenteeism
» Alcoholism
» Petty internal politics
» Bad or snap decisions
» Apathy
» Lack of motivation or creativity
Healthy stress
» When a job is challenging
» When new goals are exciting to
strive towards
» When work obstacles are overcome
» When people concerns can be
resolved
» When a team goal is met
Physical signs of too much
stress» Increased blood pressure
» Faster heartbeat, metabolism
» Decreased protein synthesis, poor digestion, depressed immune and allergic response systems
» Increased cholesterol
» Local inflammation
» Faster blood clotting
» Increased blood sugar and stomach acids
3 ways to notice stress in
yourself and others:
1. Physical: headaches, grinding
teeth, chest pain, shortness of
breath, high blood pressure, muscle
aches, indigestion, constipation or
diarrhea, increased perspiration,
fatigue, insomnia, frequent illness
2. Psychosocial: anxiety, irritability,
sadness, defensiveness, anger,
mood swings, hypersensitivity,
apathy, depression, slowed thinking
or racing thoughts, feelings of
helplessness, hopelessness, or of
being trapped.
3. Behavioral: overeating or loss of
appetite, impatience, quickness to argue,
procrastination, increased use of alcohol
or drugs, increased smoking, withdrawal
or isolation from others, neglect of
responsibility, poor job performance, poor
personal hygiene, change in religious
practices, change in close family
relationships.
Problematic stress
progression
1. Warning
2. Mild
3. Entrenched cumulative stress
4. Severe debilitating cumulative
stress
Dealing with workplace
stressJob design:
- Should be reasonably demanding and provide some variety
- Employee should be able to learn on the job and be allowed to continue to learn throughout career
Dealing with workplace
stressJob design:
- Should have some area of decision making that employee is in charge of
- Provide some degree of social support and recognition
- Employee should feel that job leads to some desirable future
Employer
- Treat employees respectfully
- Take stress seriously and be understanding of pressure on staff
- Involve employees in some decision making and allow for direct input or committee input
- Encourage managers to be proactive and watch for signs of stress in employees
Employer
- Provide workplace health and safety programs
- Make sure staff have adequate and ongoing training for their jobs
- Design jobs for balanced work load
- Keep job demands reasonable
- Provide access to employee assistance programs
Managers
- Do not tolerate bullying or harassment of any kind
- Do not ignore signs that employees are under pressure or stressed
- Remember that elements of the workplace can be a cause of stress and look for the root causes
Managers
- Make positive changes to the workplace in ways that lessen stress for everyone
- Show recognition and appreciation
- Look for ways to train for/rotate jobs
Employees- Find ways to laugh! Share a joke, find humor
around you and look for the bright side
- Learn to relax in small ways: deep breathing, stretch, take your breaks
- Take charge of your situation by taking 10 minutes to prioritize and organize your day. Be honest with colleagues but be practical and constructive. Look for realistic ways you can make small changes to make your work day better.
- Talk to someone close about your feelings
- Take advantage of Employee Assistance programs and courses
10 tips for mental health1. Build confidence
2. Eat right, keep fit
3. Make time for family and friends
4. Give and accept support
5. Create a meaningful budget
6. Volunteer, be of service
7. Actively manage stress before it gets out of hand
8. Find strength in others - look for allies
9. Identify and deal with moods constructively
10. Learn to be at peace with yourself