the secrets of mastering stress · the secrets of mastering ... 34 percent thought about quitting...

The Secrets of Mastering Stress

Stress At Work !

Learning Outcomes

!  Topics! –  Losses Due to Stress

–  Stress Surveys

–  Workplace Stressors

–  Job Conditions Leading to Stress

!  Learning Objectives!

–  Understand the nature of the losses suffered by businesses due to stress.

–  Discover the major stressors at work.

–  Know some of the major factors employers can control to improve stress experienced by employees.

!  Assignment!

–  Determine major work stressors and possible actions.

Quote: (Katherine The Great)

The workplace has been identified as the greatest single source of stress.”

Remarks Of Joseph A. Dear, Assistant Secretary Of Labor For Occupational Safety And

Healthbefore The American Psychlological Association Conference,"work, Stress, & Health '95: Creating Healthier Workplaces” September

14, 1995

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Copyright © 1992-1996, 2006 by Murray Johannsen. All Rights Reserved 23

1Northwestern National Life (now ReliaStar Financial Corporation) Northwestern National Life Insurance Company [1991]. Employee burnout: America's newest epidemic. Minneapolis, MN: Northwestern National Life Insurance Company

Work Place Stress

!  Seven in ten American workers indicated that job stress is causing frequent health problems and has made them less productive1!–  Workers who report high stress are three

times more likely than workers reporting low stress to suffer from frequent illness

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1Source: Rosch, Paul & Pelletier, Ken (1987). Designing Worksite Stress Management Programs. Lawrence Murphy & Schoenborn (Eds.) Stress Management in Workplace Settings. Washington D. C: U.S. H.H.S. 2remarks Of Joseph A. Dear, Assistant Secretary Of Labor For Occupational Safety And Healthbefore The American Psychlological Association Conference,"work, Stress, & Health '95: Creating Healthier Workplaces” September 14, 1995

Stress, Illness and the Workplace

!  Cost of Job Stress!–  93 million due to back problems1, and

–  26 million due to coronary artery disease and hypertension1

–  According to the Employee Assistance Professionals Association, the number of stress-related disability claims file by American workers doubled during the period from 1982 to 1990.2

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1Source: Rosch, Paul & Pelletier, Ken (1987). Designing Worksite Stress Management Programs. Lawrence Murphy & Schoenborn (Eds.) Stress Management in Workplace Settings. Washington D. C: U.S. H.H.S.

Workplace Costs Due to Stress

!  Work Days Lost Due to Job Stress!

–  About 500 million workdays are lost due to illness or disability1

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Stress In the Work Place

!  One survey1 indicated:!

–  80 percent of those surveyed felt their jobs where a source of stress,

–  30 percent saying the jobs where very stressful.

1Poll in USA Today in 1987!

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1Northwestern National Life (now ReliaStar Financial Corporation) Northwestern National Life Insurance Company [1991]. Employee burnout: America's newest epidemic. Minneapolis, MN: Northwestern National Life Insurance Company

Work Place Stress1

!  34 percent thought about quitting their jobs because of workplace stress!

!  14 percent left their job because of stress!

!  One million workers are out on any given day to to stress related illness!

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Vacation Days Per Year For Working Adults

!  Country Work Stress!–  It’s hard to measure work stress.

However, one indirect measure is lack of vacation days.

1Source: Harris Interactive, Inc. and Ipsos Reid for Expedia.com, May 2006

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

France

Germany

UK

Canada

Australia

US

Quote: (Katherine The Great)

In my position you have to read when you want to write and to talk when you would like to read; you have to laugh when you feel like crying; twenty things interfere with twenty others; you have not time for a moment’s thought, and nevertheless you have to be constantly ready to act without allowing yourself to feel lassitude, either body or spirit; ill or well, it makes no difference, everything at once demands that you should attend to it on the spot.

Catherine II (The Great), 1729-1796, Empress of Russia"Correspondence with Baron F. M. Grimm!

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1National Institute of Safety and Health, Stress At Work

Job Conditions That Lead To Stress1

!  Career Concerns. !–  Job insecurity and lack of opportunity for

growth, advancement, or promotion; rapid changes for which workers are unprepared.

»  Example: Since the reorganization at David's plant, everyone is worried about their future with the company and what will happen next.

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Job Conditions That Lead To Stress

!  Design of Tasks1!–  Heavy workload, infrequent rest breaks,

long work hours and shift work; hectic and routine tasks that have little inherent meaning, do not utilize workers' skills, and provide little sense of control.

»  Example: David works to the point of exhaustion. Theresa is tied to the computer, allowing little room for flexibility, self-initiative, or rest.

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!  Environmental Conditions. !–  Unpleasant or dangerous physical

conditions such as crowding, noise, air pollution, or ergonomic problems.

»  Example: David is exposed to constant noise at work.

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!  Work Roles. !–  Conflicting or uncertain job expectations,

too much responsibility, too many "hats to wear.”

»  Example: Theresa is often caught in a difficult situation trying to satisfy both the customer's needs and the company's expectations.

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!  Management Style. !–  Lack of participation by workers in

decision- making, poor communication in the organization, lack of family-friendly policies.

»  Example: Theresa needs to get the boss's approval for everything, and the company is insensitive to her family needs.

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!  Interpersonal Relationships. !–  Poor social environment and lack of

support or help from coworkers and supervisors.

»  Example: Theresa's physical isolation reduces her opportunities to receive help from them.

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Solutions

!  Organizational Change!

–  Change Corporate Culture »  Hard to do

–  Can have consultants identify stressors and work to change them

!  Individual Stress Management!

–  There are a number of techniques to better manage stress

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Stressors In the Work Place1

!  64% — Type of Work Done!

!  50% — Lack of Communication!

!  46% — Understaffing!

!  44% —Employer Demands !

!  38% — Preoccupation with work !

!  32% — Incompetent Supervisors!

!  32% — Co-workers !

!  31% — Too many hours!

!  29% —Incompetent Subordinates!

1Poll in USA Today in 1987!

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Stress Busters Assignment: Reducing Work Stress

Instructions

Often there are work stressors that we can control or minimize. Examine the previous material and personal memories and come up with a least of five items. For each, come up with some type of action.

Example:

A stressor might be a “bad supervisor.” Potential actions could include: Look for another job within the organization; live with it (probably not the best option); quit and find another job.

Source of Work Stress Action

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Copyright © 1992-1996, 2006 by Murray Johannsen. All Rights Reserved

Quote: Bergen (Work Never Kills)

Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?

Edgar Bergen, 1903-1978"Radio personality and ventriloquist"

Frequent line!

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