In today’s work and social culture we are required to do more and more in less time, this all has a knock on effect and can often lead to stress in the workplace. Stress comes in many different forms and can affect people in various ways.
Did you know that?
Work related stress causes the British economy over £381 million each year and this number is steadily rising. Stress is not an illness, it is a state, but if it continues in your life it can cause prolonged mental and physical difficulties.
Stress can develop in some and not in others, what a person might see as no problem another may get stressed over, there are no set rules regarding stress. If you think that you be suffering from stress you may notice:
- That your sleep pattern will be affected
- Eating less or more often and smoke and drink more
- You will lose your temper more often
- At the end of the day you will look at what you have done and think you have achieved nothing
- Start having poor relations with loved ones and work colleagues
These are only a few of the main signs of stress in the workplace; if you think that you are suffering you must contact your manager as soon as possible. The Health and Safety Executive have identified six factors that can lead to workplace related stress.
- Demands, can your employees cope with the demands of a particular job?
- Control, can an employee have a say in the way that a particular job is done?
- Support, if a problem occurs is there adequate support from their managers and directors.
- Relationships, what is the relationship between your employees is it a happy one. Is there any of your employees being bullied?
- Role, do all your employees totally understand the role they have to play within your company?
- Change, companies often change their structures, are all your managers consulted and happy about the changes implemented?
Only when we understand these six factors, can we start to understand the amount of stress that a person or group of people have to go through in order to complete their daily tasks.
Think! About stress on the 4th of November 2009 this is national stress awareness day.
One Response
Nice summary
Another important factor that leads to stress is value conflicts. That’s when employees conclude that their organization is working contrary to their personal or professional values. That means that working effectively for the company makes the world a worse place rather than a better place. At least from the employees’ perspective.
A lot of trouble employees have with change is that they see cost cutting or restructuring as weakening the company’s genuine contribution to its customers or the larger community.
That’s a stressful experience when you really care about your work.
Michael
workengagement.com