Work Place Stress

Work Place Stress

People now work longer hours and more days a year than ever before,

leading to an unparalleled rise in employee stress. So it’s up to

companies to take the initiative to promote workplace relaxation for

the good of both their employees and the bottom line.

Numerous studies show that office stress is associated with

susceptibility to illnesses such as cold, flu and musculoskeletal

disorders including carpal tunnel syndrome.

What is stress? Stress as defined as the bodily strain that an individual experiences as a result of coping with some environmental factor. The rapidly increasing pace in the business world challenges even the best workers. A recent Gallup poll

shows only 14 percent of workers are dissatisfied with their job, while

a whopping 34 percent are dissatisfied with how much stress they

face at work. Most companies are getting the output of about 50 to 70 workers for

every 100 people they employ. Stress elicited the highest level of dissatisfaction from a

list of common problems, even exceeding recognition, promotion

opportunities, and salary!

Sadly, stress in the workplace is likely to increase. Stiff competition,

expanding roles, and demanding technological advances all blend

together to produce a heavy dose of stress on even the heartiest

employee. I’m not just talking about management. No level of staff

is immune. For instance, the days when typing speed was the main

challenge for office professionals are long gone. Now they are

expected to master skills ranging from high-tech office equipment,

complex software, and communication with a wide

range of cultures and personalities.

I can personally attribute two transfers out of my current department to job related stress. One was a four-year employee who had grown tired of cycling data day in and day out without any praise or any relief in sight. She just could handle another month of the same endless tasks. She transferred to a...