PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS, STRESS AND HEALTH AND

THE WORLD OF WORK

Presented ByMatthew M Ncube

ILO Specialist Working Conditions and EnvironmentPublic Service Employee Health & Wellness Indaba

V9th-12- October 2005

SCOPE OF PRESENTATION

Background, Introduction and Objectives, Definition of Stress, ILO Safework Infocus Programme on Working

Conditions and Environment, Stress in the World of Work, Proactive Interventions Against Stress, Prevention of Stress, Recommendations, Conclusion

Objectives, Background, and Introduction

To highlight the adverse impact of stress in the world of work,

To motivate for the development and implementation of proactive strategic responses against psychosocial factors in the world of work,

To provide information on the ILO response to HIV/AIDS in the World of Work in the context of psychosocial factors.

MOTIVATIORS IF WE ALWAYS DO WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS

DONE WE WILL GET WHAT WE ALWAYS HAVE “NOTHING” NO PROGRESS AT ALL,

WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE PLATEAU OF SATURATION THROUGH INNOVATION FOR OUR SURVIVAL AND FUTURE”

“WE SPEND OUR TIME PREPARING TO LIVE AND WHEN ARE WE GOING TO LIVE”

DEFINITION OF STRESS A force which deforms bodies, Body’s general plan for adapting to all exerted

influences , changes, demands and strains, Plan comes into action once the body is

exposed to the strain factors that range from violence, exposure to hazards at work,

Stress factors include physical, mental and psychosocial elements,

Stress is response of the body to strenuous factors, influences and demands.

Definition of Stress……

Stress affects the wear and tear of the body, Background stress is desirable as a source of

motivation, Stress fuels the body’s activity, The response of the body to stress depends

on a number of factors of the individual, Adverse effects are exerted when the body is

subjected to excessive levels of stress.

ILO SAFEWORK INFOCUS PROGRAMME

WORLD OF WORK

EMPLOYERSORGANIZATIONS

WORKERS0RGANIZATIONS

GOVERNMENT

COMMUNITY

COMM

UNITY

COMM

UNITY

ILO Safework Infocus Programme on OSH

ILO Conventions on Safety and Health, Hazard Profiling, Health Risk Assessments, Proactive Operational Programmes for

Occupational Safety and Health, Psychosocial Factors in the World of

Work, Action at National and Enterprise Levels.

ILO Safework Infocus Programme on OSH

Prevent occupational non-disabling and disabling injuries,

Prevent occupational illnesses and diseases,

Prevent downgrading factors on the economy or business processes,

Responsible care concept regarding community responsibilities.

HAZARD PROFILING AND HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT

What are the Hazards?Exposure

Characteristics?Acute and

Chronic Effects?Evaluation of

Hazards?Prevention and

Protection?

HAZARDS:Chemicals,Physical,

Engineering,Biological,

Ergonomics,Psychosocial

HEALTH EFFECTS?

PROACTIVE OSH PROGRAMMES

Occupational Safety, Occupational Health Services, Occupational Hygiene Services, Occupational Safety and Health Promotion, Occupational Safety and Health Training, Integrated proactive intervention

approach.

Stress in the World of Work Management attributes and techniques, Prevailing psychosocial conditions, Person and environment fit, Social, Emotional and Physiological Approach, Social Support, Sexual harassment, Violence in the World of Work, Unemployment and Insecurity.

Stress in the World of Work MANAGERIAL STYLE, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE AND CULTURE, PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND

COMPENSATION, STAFFING ISSUES, ORGANIZATIONAL SOCIALIZATION,

STRESS IN THE WORLD OF WORK

CAREER STAGES,SELF ESTEEMGENDER, JOB STRESS AND ILNESS,ETHNICITY,ERGONOMICSSHIFT WORK.

STRESS IN THE WORLD OF WORK

HAZARDS

SOCIAL

GENDER

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

SELF ESTEEM

ORGANIZATIONALSOCIALISATION

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

STAFFING ISSUES

1. Management Attributes and Techniques

Non defined operational policies and procedures,

Poor interactive synergies and feedback, Lack of social dialogue, Lack of defined job processes, Autocratic and disregard for employees, Poor involvement of employees.

2. Prevailing Psychosocial Conditions ILO Resolution (1975)

Work should respect workers lives and health, Leave them time for rest and leisure, Provide opportunities to serve society, Provide for development of personal

capacities for self-fulfilment, Workplace should provide for social support

and recognition, We need to relate our work to social life.

3. SOCIAL SUPPORT Lack of support from peers, Lack of support from social groups, Lack of support from immediate family, Lack of support in the workplace, Interactive variables that include psychosocial

psychobiological and individual psychological stress reaction provoke final outcome of physical illness.

4. SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Applies to both female and male employees, Supervisor and subordinate interrelationships, Sexual remarks and comments, Sexual favours for rewards, Posterity packages. Both verbal and physical specifically directed. It is unwelcome, undesirable and variable.

5. VIOLENCE IN THE WORLD OF WORK

Verbal abuse, Abusive language, Physical violence, Derogatory language, Demographic attributes also feature with

individual characteristics, Control at organization level has been very

poor.

6. INSECURITY

Security of employment uncertain,National economic performance,Retrenchments,Social Protection,Employment opportunities,

7. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Ambiguous organizational structure, Poor communication characterized by

rumor mongering, Lack of clearly defined operational policies and

procedures, Lack of clearly defined management

systems, Lack of organizational character, Workers feel insecure with little information.

8. ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE AND CULTURE

Organization lacks motivation, Workers do not belong and do not have

identity, Every one does whatever they fee like

because the system does not care, Executives and management operate in

cocooned stratified levels, What is our mission and vision and is it

known?

9. ORGANIZATIONAL SOCIALIZATION

Does the organization provide for opportunities for social staff interaction?

Do we recognize the important role of promoting employee interaction?

Promoting accommodation of all employees through sharing of problems and challenges,

TEAM building together everyone achieves more.

10. PERFOMANCE MEASURES AND COMPENSATION

No clearly defined corporate functional objectives,

Employees do not know how they fit into the organizations goals and objectives,

Individual functional objectives not set and fully explained to all employees,

Measures of performance are not defined, Appraisals are not comprehensive, Merit and reward system is not well defined.

11. STAFFING ISSUES

Inadequate staffing levels, Lack of clear organ gram with properly

assigned functional staffing levels, Overloading employees with unrealistic

targets and goals, Staff and skills development, Proper job assignment, Lack of a comprehensive promotional system.

12. CAREER STAGES

No clearly defined career development policy, Succession planning and preparedness, Promotion system, Access to equal opportunities, Recognition and identification of high flyers, Effective recruitment system.

13. SELF ESTEEM

Favourability individuals typical of self evaluation,

Low esteem highly susceptible to environmental stressors,

Highly esteemed cope better with stresses, Self esteem is actually self evaluation and

perception, Measure of self confidence very essential

14. GENDER, JOB STRESS AND ILLNESS

Effects of stress on women still need further comprehensive research,

Coronary heart disease prevalence has been found to be high among men,

Women need to cope with demands of pregnancy,

Women therefore are highly susceptible than men however further investigations are needed regarding job placement.

15. ETHNICITY Cross cultural aspects, Aspects of poverty, economic marginality,

inadequate housing, unemployment, crime and discrimination,

Not usually and traditionally identified, Prejudice and discrimination are the

notable stressors, Influences assignment with regard to

allocation of favourable conditions.

16. SHIFT WORK

Circadian rhythms, Immune system, Adaptation considerations, Health environment, Recuperation period, Proper management of shift work, Evaluation of effects of shift work.

17. ERGONOMICS

Design of work stations, Design and specification of jobs, Standard job procedures, Assignment of job tasks, Synchronization of operational procedures, Review of operational procedures, Introduction of new technology or innovations.

IMPACT OF STRESS Raised heart beat, High blood pressure, Increased muscle tension, Electrodermal (sweat gland activity), Disturbance of cardiac output, Disturbed breathing patterns, Modifications in gastro intestinal activity, Disturbed immune functional system.

IMPACT OF STRESS

Disturbed hormonal responses of the cathecolamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline and cortisol),

Effects on blood clotting, Release of reserve energy from adipose

tissue, Blood pressure during working time than

leisure time.

IMPACT OF STRESS o Increased alcohol and substance abuse,o Reckless and irresponsible sexual behaviour,o High susceptibility to illnesses,o Compromised immune system,o Burn out that leads to deprived and

compromised illhealth,o High risk to occupational accidents,o Low productivity.

BURN OUT!! BURN OUT!!!

BODY HAS EXCEEDEDCAPACITY TO RESIST

ILL HEALTH EFFECTS

HIGH RISK SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR

HIGH BODY EXHAUSTION

REDUCED IMMUNESYSTEM

MOBILE TIME BOMB

IMPACT OF STRESS

Body has a limited capacity to deal with stress,

Break point, Recuperation, Fair wear and tear of the body, High risk behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS

responsible and proactive behaviour.

IMPACT OF STRESS

Gastro intestinal effect,Irregular eating habits,Poor nutrition,Poor state of wellness,Disturbed eating patterns and

habits.

PROACTIVE INTERVENTIONS

Identify causes of stress,Identify sources of stress,Develop and implement effective

proactive interventions,Review policies of corporate

organizations,Redesign jobs,

PROACTIVE INTERVENTIONS Improve communication system, Review of personnel policies, Cascade decision making process to lower

levels, Conduct periodic stress audits, Establish a comprehensive monitoring system

for stress in the world of work through stress audits as a means of regular monitoring.

PROACTIVE INTERVENTIONS Monitoring system for stress focusing on the

following:Job content,Work scheduling,Physical working conditions,Employment terms and expected outputs,Relationships to work,Communication systems and reporting

protocol.

SECONDARY PREVENTION OF STRESS IN THE WORLD OF WORK Develop and implement stress management

courses to enhance recognition of stress, Include simple relaxation techniques, Change of life style, Time management, Development of personal stress management

techniques, Return to work preparation of employee

programme very essential.

ILO RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS

ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS in World of Work, Ten Key principles:

Recognition of HIV/AIDS as a Workplace Issue,Non-discrimination,Gender equality,Healthy work environment,Social dialogue,Screening for purposes of exclusion from work,Confidentiality,

ILO CODE OF PRACTICE ON HIV/AIDS

o Continuation of employment relationships,o Prevention and proactive initiatives,o Care and support.o Programme implementation strategies and

operational activities,o Comprehensively defined measures of

performance?

RECOMMENDATIONS We need to develop and implement effective

measures to monitor stress in the world of work, We need to recognize the impact of stress on

HIV/AIDS initiatives, We need to develop proactive effective

management systems for stress in the world of work,

We need to address the hazards of stress in the world of work through proactive interventions.

THE WAY FORWARD HIV/AIDS poses the single greatest challenge to

the survival of humanity, We need to make a difference in each and every

day that we have as an opportunity, The proactive approach is not a luxury but a

must, The role of the Public Service in driving national

economic development needs to be acknowledged and provide leadership.

CONCLUSION

Each and every one of us need to acknowledge that we are a potential resource of opportunity for change.

What can we contribute to the KHOMANANI National Initiative?

Employees make an important contribution to national economic development in our member states.

REFERENCES

ILO Encyclopaedia on Occupatioanl Safety and Health,

Integrated Occupational Occupational Safety and Health Management ISSA Publication 154 of 2003 Matthew M Ncube and Edwin Kaseke.

www.issa.org www.ilo.org (website)