STRESS

MANAGEMENT:
Dealing with the
demands of life
and work
Learning objectives

´ Learn the definition of stress

´ Be able to name common stressors
´ Learn the common consequences of stress (strains)
´ Understand the effects of stress on behavior
´ Learn ways to reduce stress
´ Be familiar with the importance of child-care and
eldercare programs
´ Learn how stress can at times result in workplace
violence
Stress Terms

´ Stress
´ The psychological and physical reaction to certain life
events or situations.
´ Stressor
´ The life event that causes stress
´ Strain
´ The consequences of stress
Types of Stress

´ Eustress
´ Stress converted to positive energy
´ Desirable outcome of stress
´ Motivational results
´ Optimal level of arousal
´ Distress
´ Negative outcome
´ Results in emotional and physical illness
Predisposition to Stress

´ Stress Personalities
´ Type A vs. Type B
´ Pessimists vs. Optimists
´ Neuroticism
´ Gender, Ethnicity, Race
´ Stress Sensitization
Sources of Stress: Personal Stressors

´ Fear
´ Resistance
´ Resentment
Sources of Stress:
Occupational Stressors

´ Job Characteristics
´ Role conflict
´ Role ambiguity
´ Role overload
´ Organizational Characteristics
´ Person/organization fit
´ Change
´ Relations with others
´ Organizational politics
Correlates of Employee
Stress: Antecedents

Antecedent Corrected Correlation Meta-Analysis

Organizational Politics 0.45 Miller et al. (2008)

Job Insecurity 0.19 Sverke et al. (2002)

Lack of Fit

Person-job 0.28 Kristof-Brown et al. (2005)

Person-organization 0.27 Kristof-Brown et al. (2005)

Lack of Support

Coworkers 0.18 Viswesvaran et al. (1999)

Supervisors 0.24 Viswesvaran et al. (1999)

Sources of Stress:
Physical Work Environment

´ Noise
´ Temperature
´ Work schedule
NOISE
Important Noise Factors

Most Disruptive Least Disruptive

High frequency Low frequency
Unpleasant Pleasant
Intermittent Continuous
Unnecessary Necessary
Unpredictable Predictable
Unfamiliar Familiar
Person is noise Person is not noise
sensitive sensitive
Effects of Noise on Health

´ Hearing loss

´ Increased blood pressure

´ More frequent illness

Effects of Noise on
Performance

´ Affects quality more than quantity

´ Decreased performance on cognitive tasks
´ Decreased job satisfaction
Effects of Noise on Behavior

´ Narrowed focus

´ Lower altruism

´ Decreased eye contact

´ Increased rate of walking

 Effects of Noise at Different
Levels
Source of Noise Decibels Effect
Rocket launch 180
Jet takeoff 130 Brief exposure can cause deafness
Riveting machine 115 Maximum legal exposure
Textile weaving plant 100 Blood pressure increases

Food blender 95 Cognitive performance drops

Employees report more illness
Angry people increase aggressiveness
City traffic 90 Legal acceptable noise limit for 8-
hour day
Noisy restaurant 70 Telephone use is difficult
Osha noise limits

Hours of Exposure Maximum Decibels

8 90 (city traffic)
6 92
4 95 (food blender)
2 100
1 105
½ 110 (lawn mower)
¼ 115 (riveting machine)
120 (disco)
130 (jet takeoff)
Reducing Noise

´ Legal limits to noise exposure

´ Change the environment (e.g., carpet, acoustic tiles)
´ Reduce noise reaching employee (e.g., ear plugs)
´ Reduce noise emitted
TEMPERATURE
Temperature

´ Body reduces heat by

´ Radiation
´ Evaporation
´ Body increases heat by
´ Constricting blood vessels
´ Effective temperature
´ Air temperature
´ Humidity
´ Airflow
´ Temperature of objects in the environment
Effects of Temperature

´ Depend on
´ Temperature
´ Task type
´ Workload
´ Amount of exposure
´ Rest periods
Work Schedules
Shift Work

´ 25% of employees work evening or night shifts

´ Shift work can disrupt circadian rhythm
´ Factors affecting impact of shift work
´ Uniqueness of shift
´ Fixed versus rotating shift
´ Frequency of rotation
´ Direction of the rotation
´ Individual differences (chronotype)
´ Night people
´ Morning people
Sources of Stress:
Other Sources

´ Minor frustration
´ Forecasting
´ Residual
Consequences of Stress:
Organizational

´ Job performance (curvilinear relationship)

´ Burnout
´ Absenteeism
´ Turnover
´ Drug/alcohol abuse
´ Health care costs
Signs of Burnout

´ Less energy ´ Apathy

´ Lower productivity ´ Dread coming to
´ Being late to work work
´ Complaining and ´ Feeling
negativity overwhelmed
´ Decreased ´ Tension and
concentration frustration
´ Forgetfulness ´ Feelings of little
impact on
coworkers or the
organization
Correlates of Employee
Stress: Consequences
Consequence Corrected Meta-Analysis
Correlation
Job Performance - 0.13 Miller et al. (2008)
Turnover
Actual 0.13 Kristof-Brown et al.
(2005)
Intended 0.41 Kristof-Brown et al.
(2005)
OCBs - 0.16
Job Satisfaction - 0.34 Viswesvaran et al.
(1999)
Commitment - 0.31 Viswesvaran et al.
(1999)
Consequences of Stress:
Personal

´ Psychological ´ Behaviors
´ Depression ´ Smoking
´ Anxiety ´ Drinking
´ Anger ´ Drug abuse
´ Sleep problems
´ Physical
´ Illness
´ Headaches
´ Joint pain
Managing Stress:
Planning for Stress

´ Exercise
´ Laughter
´ Diet
´ Smoking reduction
´ Sleep
´ Support groups
´ Self-empowerment
´ Coping skills
Managing Stress:
During and After Stress

´ Relaxation techniques
´ Abdominal breathing
´ Progressive muscle relaxation
´ Meditation
´ Time management
Life/Work Interventions:
Assist With Child Care

´ Why the Concern?

´ 40% of employees have children
´ Lack of child care results in 8 more days of absenteeism
´ Organizational Strategies (SHRM, 2014)
´ Allow employee to bring child to work in emergency
(26%)
´ Provide referral service (10%)
´ Subsidize cost of child care (3%)
´ Provide on-site child care facility (<1%)
Life/Work Interventions:
Assist With Elder Care

´ Why the Concern?

´ 33% of employees provide elder care
´ 50% of employees missed work, were late, or quit their
jobs due to elder care responsibilities
´ Organizational Strategies (SHRM, 2014)
´ Provide referral service (11%)
´ Provide emergency elder care (<1%)
Life/Work Interventions:
Provide Alternative Work Schedules

Work Schedule Percent Offering

Flextime 52
Compressed work week 29
Job sharing 9
Source: SHRM 2014 Benefits Survey
Life/Work Interventions:
Wellness Programs

Program Percent Offering

Wellness information 79
EAP 74
Health screening 47
Smoking cessation program 42
Subsidize fitness center dues 34
Weight loss programs 32

Source: SHRM 2014 Benefits Survey

Life/Work Interventions:
Assist with Daily Chores

Company Benefit Percent Offering

Legal assistance 21
Dry cleaning 9
Concierge service 3
Provide take-home meals 2

Source: SHRM 2014 Benefits Survey

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
Workplace Violence

´ Statistics
´ Homicide reason for 12% of workplace fatalities
´ 1% of employees annually victims of workplace violence
´ Rate of workplace violence has been declining since 1993
´ Types of Workplace Violence
´ Homicides during commission of a crime (70%)
´ Homicide of a law enforcement officer (19%)
´ Acts of vengeance against employee (11%)
´ Committed by current employee (44%)
´ Former employees (23%)
´ Domestic violence (21%)
´ Other (12%)
Workplace Violence
Perpetrators

´ Male (80%)
´ 20-50 years of age (usually in his 40s)
´ Self-esteem tied to job
´ Feels there is no other way of resolving his mistreatment
other than violence
´ Demonstrated a recent pattern of problems at work
´ Has recently tried to get others to take his dilemma
seriously by threatening, yelling, etc.
´ Has begun showing signs of paranoid thinking
´ Has become isolated and withdrawn
´ Has ready access to guns
Reducing Workplace
Violence

´ Security measures
´ Better employee screening methods
´ Increased management awareness