"Having a job in many ways improves an individual's health and overall attitude toward life." However, many people face significant stress in the workplace that it outweighs any possible benefits and even poses a threat to their health. Show
The United States' National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health defines job stress as
the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. Job stress can, in turn, lead to poor health and even injury. Many workers report experiencing work-related stress at their jobs and this compromises their performance and health. A recent
survey by Northwestern National Life revealed that about 40% of workers reported that their jobs were extremely stressful. In another
survey by Yale University, 29% of workers reported feeling extreme stress because of their jobs. Stress levels vary between professions and population groups. Some workers are at a higher risk of stress than others. Studies reveal that younger workers, women, and those in lower-skilled jobs are at most risk of experiencing work-related stress and its attendant complications.
The Impacts of Workplace StressWorkplace stressors are classified as physical and psychosocial. Physical stressors include noise, poor lighting, poor office or work layout, and ergonomic factors, such as bad working postures.
Workplace stress not only affects the worker, it also has adverse effects on company performance well. The effects of job-related strain are evident in workers' physical health, mental health, and their behavior.
The impact of stress on cardiovascular disease has been well established: Studies have shown that workplace stress is a strong risk factor for preludes to cardiovascular disease (obesity, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure) and of adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke. There is also a growing body of evidence that work-related stress increases one's risk of diabetes. Other physical health problems linked to workplace stress include immune deficiency disorders, musculoskeletal disorders including chronic back pain, and gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Workplace stress also has
adverse effects on workers' mental health, with an increased risk of anxiety, burnout, depression, and substance use disorders. Workers who are stressed at work are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, and poor dietary patterns. With these attendant health effects, workplace stress reduces employee productivity, increases
absenteeism and presenteeism, increases the number of days taken off work for doctor visits, and increases healthcare costs incurred by employers. Workplace stress is also linked to higher accident and injury rates and higher turnover rates, both of which increase administrative costs. Workplace Interventions for Reducing StressWorkplace stress is preventable and identifying the potential sources of stress to employees in an organization is the first step in addressing them. Effective interventions for reducing workplace stress can be classified as primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary interventions involve proactive measures to prevent
stress by removing or reducing potential stressors. This level of intervention focuses on the sources of physical and psychosocial stress in the workplace. Examples of primary interventions include:
Secondary interventions are corrective and are focused on altering the
ways workers perceive and respond to stressors. These interventions aim at improving worker's ability to cope with stress and detect stress-induced symptoms early. Examples of secondary interventions include:
Tertiary interventions are forms of control at the level of the illness. These are initiated for workers who are already experiencing stress. Tertiary interventions involve providing treatment, compensation plans, rehabilitation programs, and return to
work programs for affected workers. Tertiary interventions include:
Workplace stress is a silent, and oft-neglected, factor which impairs employee health and productivity. It not only affects the workers but also contributes significantly to a decline in a company's overall success. Employers should begin to tackle this worrisome concern to create a healthier, safer, and more productive work atmosphere." Which of the following organizational influence factor is the highest contributor to job related stress?The single factor most consistently related to stress in the workplace is the amount of work that needs to be done, followed closely by the presence of looming deadlines.
What are 5 factors of stress in Organisation?Some of the factors that commonly cause work-related stress include:. Long hours.. Heavy workload.. Changes within the organisation.. Tight deadlines.. Changes to duties.. Job insecurity.. Lack of autonomy.. Boring work.. What is an individual strategy for coping with work related stress?Physical Exercise.
Because part of the cause of the fatigue resulting from stress is the body's physical reaction, exercise can be an effective means of enabling the body to more effective deal with the physical components of stress. Regular exercise can be an important and effective individual strategy.
Which of these refers to the extent to which organization members feel their peers can be trusted?Social support is simply the extent to which organization members feel their peers can be trusted, are interested in one another's welfare, respect one another, and have a genuine positive regard for one another.
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