HR Connect with Upali Rathnayake

How to manage stress at the workplace

Introduction

Job stress refers to the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the core competencies do not match the worker's capabilities, resources, or needs.

Job stress has an impact on both our health and our work. Our bodies respond to stress by boosting the level of stress hormones in our blood. When our bodies are constantly responding to constant demands or threats, our coping mechanisms go into overdrive, which can be harmful to our health over time. Excessive job stress has been linked to a variety of long-term health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weakened immune function, high blood pressure, musculoskeletal disorders, substance abuse, depression, and anxiety, according to research. 

Workplace stress can also have an indirect impact on health by limiting our ability or motivation to engage in other health raising behaviors such as eating well and exercising.

 Stress is not always bad. There are 02 modes of stress,

1. Beneficial Stress – Stress in the form of a challenge energizes us psychologically and physically, and it motivates us to learn new skills and master our work. When a challenge is met, we feel relaxed and satisfied. This is beneficial stress, and it gives a positive impact on employees as well as the organization.

2. Negative Stress - Sometimes a challenge is turned into job demands that cannot be met. This is negative stress, or distress, which can be impacted both our health and our work and sets the stage for illness, injury, and job failure. Also, it brings a negative impact on employees as well as the organization. 

  

Key Statistics on workplace stress

As per the latest research, found below statistics on workplace stress.

·         Up to 44% of women and 36% of men want to quit their jobs because of workplace stress. This   contributes to unhappiness as well as many negative health effects.

·         Healthcare expenditures are nearly 50% greater for workers who report high levels of stress. 

·         60% of lost workdays each year can be recognized due to stress.

·         Cause of workplace stress are 

 Source: Causes of workplace stress, Feb 2023

There are 02 types of job stressors.

1.       Physical stressors

2.       Psychosocial stressors 

               

How can we manage workplace stress?

·       Provide staff members a feeling of control over their work and chances to develop and learn new skills. Pay close attention to these components of the profession when designing jobs.

·        Coworker communication is necessary, as is two-way communication between employees and supervisors. Workers have the chance to socialize with one another.

·         Workstations are designed for tasks and injury avoidance.

·         Tasks are matched with workers' capabilities and resources.

·         Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined.

·         Tasks in the job are varied and have meaning overall.

·         Workers can use their skills and learn new skills.

·         Workers can make decisions affecting their jobs.

·         Work schedules can accommodate obligations outside of the workplace.

 

Benefits of preventing stress in the Workplace

Workplace stress prevention is giving fruitful results for the company's HRM process as well as employee satisfaction.

·         Increased productivity.

·         Greater job satisfaction.

·         Increased work engagement.

·         Reduced costs to the employer.

·         Reduced symptoms of poor mental and physical health.

·         Fewer injuries, less illness and lost time.

·         Reduced sick leave usage, absences and staff turnover.

 

 

 References,

·         https://www.uml.edu/docs/introductiontojobstress_tcm18-42460.pdf (accessed on 10th March 2023)

·         www.uml.edu/centers/cph-new/job-stress/default.html (accessed on 10th March 2023

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwKWVkqdbpQ (accessed on 10th March 2023)

·          https://www.stress.org/workplace (accessed on 10th March 2023)