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STRESS AT WORK STRESS AT WORK

BYBY

ANYOANYO

OOSAOOSA

2009

Stress at work is a relatively new phenomenon of modern lifestyles. The nature of work has goneStress at work is a relatively new phenomenon of modern lifestyles. The nature of work has gone through drastic changes over the last century and it is still changing at whirlwind speed. Theythrough drastic changes over the last century and it is still changing at whirlwind speed. They have touched almost all professions, starting from an artist to a surgeon, or a commercial pilot tohave touched almost all professions, starting from an artist to a surgeon, or a commercial pilot to a sales executive. With change comes stress, inevitably. Professional stress or job stress poses aa sales executive. With change comes stress, inevitably. Professional stress or job stress poses a threat to physical health. Work related stress in the life of organized workers, consequently,threat to physical health. Work related stress in the life of organized workers, consequently, affectsaffectsthe health of organizations.the health of organizations.Workplace stressWorkplace stressis the harmful physical and emotional response that occurs when there is a poor is the harmful physical and emotional response that occurs when there is a poor match between job demands and the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker.match between job demands and the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker.Stress-related disorders encompass a broad array of conditions, including Stress-related disorders encompass a broad array of conditions, including psychological psychological disordersdisorders(e.g., (e.g., depressiondepression,,anxietyanxiety, , post-traumatic stress disorder post-traumatic stress disorder ) and other types of emotional) and other types of emotional strain (e.g., dissatisfaction,strain (e.g., dissatisfaction,fatiguefatigue, ,tensiontension, etc.), maladaptive behaviors (e.g., , etc.), maladaptive behaviors (e.g.,aggressionaggression,, substance abusesubstance abuse), and cognitive impairment (e.g., concentration and memory problems). In turn,), and cognitive impairment (e.g., concentration and memory problems). In turn, these conditions may lead to poor work performance or even these conditions may lead to poor work performance or even injuryinjury. Job stress is also associated.Job stress is also associated with various biological reactions that may lead ultimately to compromised health, such aswith various biological reactions that may lead ultimately to compromised health, such as cardiovascular diseasecardiovascular disease, or in extreme cases,, or in extreme cases,deathdeath..

HATHAT

Job stress is a chronic disease caused by conditions in the workplace that unconstructively affectJob stress is a chronic disease caused by conditions in the workplace that unconstructively affect an individual's performance and/or overall well-being of his body and mind. One or more of aan individual's performance and/or overall well-being of his body and mind. One or more of a host of physical and mental illnesses manifests job stress. In some cases, job stress can behost of physical and mental illnesses manifests job stress. In some cases, job stress can be disabling. In chronic cases a psychiatric consultation is usually required to validate the reasondisabling. In chronic cases a psychiatric consultation is usually required to validate the reason and degree of work related stress.and degree of work related stress.Working on a project on stress at work, Andy Ellis, Ruskin College, Oxford, UK, has shown in aWorking on a project on stress at work, Andy Ellis, Ruskin College, Oxford, UK, has shown in a chartcharthow stress can adversely affect an employee's performance. In the early stages job stresshow stress can adversely affect an employee's performance. In the early stages job stress can 'rev up' the body and enhance performance in the workplace, thus the term 'I perform better can 'rev up' the body and enhance performance in the workplace, thus the term 'I perform better under pressure'. However, if this condition is allowed to go unchecked and the body is revved upunder pressure'. However, if this condition is allowed to go unchecked and the body is revved up further, the performance ultimately declines and the person's health degenerates.further, the performance ultimately declines and the person's health degenerates.The signs of job stress vary from person to person, depending on the particular situation, howThe signs of job stress vary from person to person, depending on the particular situation, how long the individual has been subjected to the stressors, and the intensity of the stress itself.long the individual has been subjected to the stressors, and the intensity of the stress itself. Typical symptoms of job stress can be:Typical symptoms of job stress can be:• Insomnia• Insomnia• Loss of mental concentration,• Loss of mental concentration,• Anxiety, stress• Anxiety, stress

STRESS AT WORK STRESS AT WORK

BYBY

ANYOANYO

OOSAOOSA

2009

• Absenteeism• Absenteeism• Depression,• Depression,• Substance abuse,• Substance abuse,• Extreme anger and frustration,• Extreme anger and frustration,• Family conflict• Family conflict• Physical illnesses such as heart disease, migraine, headaches, stomach problems, and back • Physical illnesses such as heart disease, migraine, headaches, stomach problems, and back problems. problems.

ISTORICALISTORICAL

FOUNDATIONSFOUNDATIONS

Walter CannonWalter Cannonand and Hans SelyeHans Selyeused animal studies to establish the earliest scientific basis for theused animal studies to establish the earliest scientific basis for the study of stress. They measured the physiological responses of animals to external pressures, suchstudy of stress. They measured the physiological responses of animals to external pressures, such as heat and cold, prolonged restraint, and surgical procedures, and then extrapolated from theseas heat and cold, prolonged restraint, and surgical procedures, and then extrapolated from these studies to human beings.studies to human beings. Subsequent studies of stress in humans by Richard Rahe and others established the view thatSubsequent studies of stress in humans by Richard Rahe and others established the view that stress is caused by distinct, measureable life stressors, and further, that these life stressors can bestress is caused by distinct, measureable life stressors, and further, that these life stressors can be ranked by the median degree of stress they produce (leading to theranked by the median degree of stress they produce (leading to theHolmes and Rahe StressHolmes and Rahe Stress ScaleScale). Thus, stress was traditionally conceptualized to be a result of external insults beyond the). Thus, stress was traditionally conceptualized to be a result of external insults beyond the control of those experiencing the stress. More recently, however, it has been argued that externalcontrol of those experiencing the stress. More recently, however, it has been argued that external circumstances do not have any intrinsic capacity to produce stress, but instead their effect iscircumstances do not have any intrinsic capacity to produce stress, but instead their effect is mediated by the individual's perceptions, capacities, and understanding.mediated by the individual's perceptions, capacities, and understanding.

AUSESAUSES

OFOF

ORK ORK

LACELACE

TRESSTRESS

Job stress results from the interaction of the worker and the conditions of work. Views differ onJob stress results from the interaction of the worker and the conditions of work. Views differ on the importance of worker characteristics versus working conditions as the primary cause of jobthe importance of worker characteristics versus working conditions as the primary cause of job stress. The differing viewpoints suggest different ways to prevent stress at work. According tostress. The differing viewpoints suggest different ways to prevent stress at work. According to one school of thought, differences in individual characteristics such as one school of thought, differences in individual characteristics such as personality personalityandandcopingcoping skillsskillsare most important in predicting whether certain job conditions will result in stress-in other are most important in predicting whether certain job conditions will result in stress-in other words, what is stressful for one person may not be a problem for someone else. Twords, what is stressful for one person may not be a problem for someone else. This viewpointhis viewpoint leads to preventioleads to prevention strategies that focus on workers and ways to help them cope with demandingn strategies that focus on workers and ways to help them cope with demanding job conditions. Although the importance of individual differences cannot be ignored, scientific job conditions. Although the importance of individual differences cannot be ignored, scientific

STRESS AT WORK STRESS AT WORK

BYBY

ANYOANYO

OOSAOOSA

2009

evidence suggests that certain working conditions are stressful to most people. Such evidenceevidence suggests that certain working conditions are stressful to most people. Such evidence argues for a greater emphasis on working conditions as the key source of job stress, and for jobargues for a greater emphasis on working conditions as the key source of job stress, and for job redesign as a primary prevention strategy. Personal interview surveys of working conditions,redesign as a primary prevention strategy. Personal interview surveys of working conditions, including conditions recognized as risk factors for job stress, were conducted in Member Statesincluding conditions recognized as risk factors for job stress, were conducted in Member States of theof theEuropean UnionEuropean Unionin 1990, 1995, and 2000. Results showed a trend across these periodsin 1990, 1995, and 2000. Results showed a trend across these periods suggestive of increasing work intensity. In 1990, the percentage of workers reporting that theysuggestive of increasing work intensity. In 1990, the percentage of workers reporting that they worked at high speeds at least one-quarter of their working time was 48%, increasing to 54% inworked at high speeds at least one-quarter of their working time was 48%, increasing to 54% in 1995 and to 56% in 2000. Similarly, 50% of workers reported they work against tight deadlines1995 and to 56% in 2000. Similarly, 50% of workers reported they work against tight deadlines at least one-fourth of their working time in 1990, increasing to 56% in 1995 and 60at least one-fourth of their working time in 1990, increasing to 56% in 1995 and 60% in 2000.% in 2000. However, no change was noted in the period 1995–2000 (data not collected in 1990) in theHowever, no change was noted in the period 1995–2000 (data not collected in 1990) in the percentage of workers reporting sufficient time to complete tasks. A substantial percentage of percentage of workers reporting sufficient time to complete tasks. A substantial percentage of Americans work very long hours. By one estimate, more than 26% of men and more than 11% of Americans work very long hours. By one estimate, more than 26% of men and more than 11% of women worked 50 hours per week or more in 2000. These figures represent a considerablewomen worked 50 hours per week or more in 2000. These figures represent a considerable increase over the previous three decades, especially for women. According to the increase over the previous three decades, especially for women. According to theDepartment of Department of Labor Labor , there has been an upward trend in hours worked among employed women, an increase in, there has been an upward trend in hours worked among employed women, an increase in extended work weeks (>40 hours) by men, and a considerable increase in combined workingextended work weeks (>40 hours) by men, and a considerable increase in combined working hours among working couples, particularly couples with young children.hours among working couples, particularly couples with young children.Job stress may beJob stress may be caused by a complex set of reasons. Some of the most visible causes of workplace stress are:caused by a complex set of reasons. Some of the most visible causes of workplace stress are:

•

OBOB

NSECURITYNSECURITY

OrganizedOrganizedworkplaces are going through metamorphic changes under intenseworkplaces are going through metamorphic changes under intense economic transformations and consequent pressures. Reorganizations, takeovers,economic transformations and consequent pressures. Reorganizations, takeovers, mergers, downsizing and other changes have become major stressors for mergers, downsizing and other changes have become major stressors for employees, as companies try to live up to the competition to survive. Theseemployees, as companies try to live up to the competition to survive. These reformations have put demand on everyone, from a CEO to a mere executive.reformations have put demand on everyone, from a CEO to a mere executive.

•

IGHIGH

EMANDEMAND

FOR FOR

ERFORMANCEERFORMANCE

Unrealistic expectations, especially in the time of corporate reorganizations,Unrealistic expectations, especially in the time of corporate reorganizations, which, sometimes, puts unhealthy and unreasonable pressures on the employee,which, sometimes, puts unhealthy and unreasonable pressures on the employee, can be a tremendous source of stress and suffering. Increased workload, extremelycan be a tremendous source of stress and suffering. Increased workload, extremely long work hours and intense pressure to perform at peak levels all the time for thelong work hours and intense pressure to perform at peak levels all the time for the same pay, can actually leave an employees physically and emotionally drained.same pay, can actually leave an employees physically and emotionally drained.