At the end of this module, you will be able to:
- List current statistics about the impact of stress in the workplace
- Describe the positive and negative aspects of stress
- Identify the types of stressors
- Describe symptoms of stress
- Describe how stress can affect work performance
- Identify when stress is out of control
- List techniques for managing stress
The following key questions are answered in this module:
Is stress always a negative thing?
No, positive stress is what people experience when being extremely creative, physically active, or feeling excited.
What are the main types of stress employees experience at work?
Employee stress originates from the following categories: organizational, individual/personal, and job-centric.
What are organizational stressors?
Organizational stressors are discrimination, overly strict rules and regulations, ineffective communication, poor teamwork, unclear direction, too much or too little to do on the job, and lack of control over one's job.
Can stress be physically harmful?
Yes, stress can take a toll on a person physically by causing muscle tension, headaches and migraines, insomnia, fatigue, frequent illness, stomach or digestive issues, over or under-eating and uncharacteristic clumsiness.
What are mental and emotional symptoms of stress?
The symptoms that affect you mentally and emotionally are anxiety, depression, apathy, trouble concentrating, social withdrawal, loss of sex drive, irritability and hostility, emotional outbursts, forgetfulness, and paranoia.
How can one manage their stress?
Taking charge of your stress is the first step in managing it. You can do this by identifying the primary stressors; keep a stress journal to help pinpoint causes and reactions, analyze coping strategies, examine situations and decide if they need to be avoided or altered, eliminate things that cause stress as much as possible, think positively, take time to relax, and exercise or consider the advantages of meditating.
Below is a transcript of the video sample provided for this module:
Recently, the World Health Organization labelled stress as the health epidemic of the 21st century. WHO estimates the effects of stress cost American businesses up to $300 billion a year. Studies show that nearly half of all workers report moderate to severe stress while on the job. Sixty-six precent also say they have difficulty focusing on work responsibilities and tasks because of stress. These statistics indicate that feeling stressed at work is a common experience, and it is detrimental to all concerned, including coworkers and management. Recognizing the causes and impact of stress, as well as the ways it can be mitigated, is essential for any employee.
Use the additional resources and links below to learn more about this topic:
- American Institute of Stress (AIS) – www.stress.org
- AIS Workplace Stress - http://www.stress.org/workplace-stress/
- HelpGuide.org – www.helpguide.org
- HelpGuide Stress at Work - http://www.helpguide.org/mental/work_stress_management.htm
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – www.cdc.gov/niosh/
- NIOSH Topics - http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/stress/
- American Psychological Association (APA) – www.apa.org
- APA Help Center - https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/work-stress.aspx
- Mayo Clinic – www.mayoclinic.com
- Mayo Clinic Stress Management - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coping-with-stress/SR00030