What is Work Stress?
We have all felt stress before. Stress can often be a motivator for change or improvement and at times, can be a good thing. However, stress can also cross the line and become a negative. Too much stress doesn't feel good physically or mentally, and continued, prolonged stress can lead to chronic conditions such as heart disease, ulcers and even diabetes.
One of the biggest sources of stress in our current culture is work. Work stress has become so prevalent that managers and supervisors are taught to watch for the signs in their employees, and many workplaces have special stress management programs available. Without assistance, work stress can lead to problems like depression, migraines, upset stomachs and irritability.
Physical and Psychological issues for employees aren't the only costs of workplace stress though. A company's productivity is often hampered, and there is a higher chance for on the job injury. Employees suffering from the stress of work also end up increasing health care costs as a result of their physical and psychological reactions to work stress.
Many different jobs have the potential for repeated stress reactions during the day. This is the problem with work stress in particular. You didn't get the memo until 5 min. before the meeting - Your co-worker called in sick the day of your presentation - You have 5 messages to return, all of them from people with problems only you can solve! And that doesn't even scratch the surface. When you experience work stress with such frequency as many of us do, it can really become a problem.
Work Stress often results when the demands placed upon us exceed our skills to cope with them, or when we become upset and frustrated by our work instead of satisfied by it. Jobs that are filled with tedious tasks, low pay and high workload, or where there is a fear of a layoff, are all examples of situations in which individuals are susceptible to work stress.
Both employees and employers can help to decrease the stress we feel at work by creating environments in which all work together and the employee’s needs are considered along with those of the company. Things like more frequent breaks, even just to stretch and move around, having some level of office/team support and recognition or a more open of sharing company information are just a few ways of decreasing work stress.
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