Job Stress Essay, Research Paper

Over the past few decades, many people are hearing more

about job related stress. With many households depending on

duel incomes, people are working more and having less

leisure time. Many claim that job stress has contributed to

such illnesses as heart disease, depression, gastric

problems, exhaustion, and many other related illnesses.

This paper will focus on the background issues surrounding

stress; as well as, the steps that need to be taken by one s

self and the employer.

According to The Random House Dictionary, stress is

defined as physical, mental, or emotional tension. Job

stress occurs when demands are imposed upon the workers in

which they can not meet those demands, or when there are not

enough adequate supplies or information available for the

employee to perform their job as required (Paine, 1982, pg.

68).

In the book The Overworked American, author Juliet

Schor (1991) reports that 30 percent of adults have reported

experiencing high levels of stress on a daily basis. There

is an even higher percentage of adults who have claimed to

have high levels of stress at least once or twice a week.

In 1965, only a quarter of the population reported that they

are rushed to get things done resulting in high stress

levels. Today, that number has increased to one-third of

the American population claiming they are rushed on a daily

basis (Schor, 1991, p.11).

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Prolonged severe stress can cause emotional depression,

the exhaustion stage is not depression, but a physical

process. Long-lasting excessive stress can cause a variety

of physical illnesses. Among them: high blood pressure,

ulcers, colitis, arthritis, diabetes, stoke, and heart

attack. The same type and level of stress can effect

individuals differently. It depends on the person s

physical condition (age, sex, genetic predisposition) and on

certain external factors (diet, or treatment with certain

drugs or hormones) as to the physical or emotional suffering

that will occur. The weakest link in a chain breaks down

under stress, even though all parts are equally exposed to

it (Bensahel, Goodloe, and Kelly, 1984, p. 130).

Illnesses that derive from stress usually develop

slowly, without the individual being clearly aware of what

is happening. Guidelines were developed by Robert J. Ban

Amberg, a practicing psychiatrist in Montclair, New Jersey

to help individuals measure their own reactions to stress

and to help managers know when they are under stress. These

guidelines were developed into six stages with stress

symptoms becoming worse at each stage. Sometimes, the

stress symptoms will disappear or lessen (Bensahel et al.,

1984, p. 135).

The first stage of stress is mild and usually is

accompanied by 1. Great zest 2. Unusually acute perception

3. Excessive nervous energy and ability to accomplish more

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work than usual (Bensahel et al., 1984, p. 135). During

this stage, it is so pleasant that they want to maintain it.

Unfortunately, it must be considered an early warning sign

that energy reserves are being drawn down (Bensahel et al.,

1984, p. 135).

During the second stage of recognizing stress, some of

the more unpleasant effects begin to appear. Energy

reserves usually do not last through the day. Some of the

symptoms include tiredness early in the day, heart flutters

and/or disturbance of bowel and stomach functions, tightness

occurring in back and head muscles, and not being to relax

(Bensahel et al., 1984 p. 136).

Tiredness becomes more apparent in the third stage.

There is more disturbance in bowel functions as well as

stomach pain. Muscles become more tight and there is an

increased feeling of tenseness. Individuals usually

experience sleep problems and have a feeling of faintness.

For individuals suffering stress to this stage, medical

attention is advisable. Unless one reduces the demands

causing stress, more serious problems will arise in the

later stages (Bensahel et al., 1984 p. 136).

At stage four, one can experience problems getting

through the day. Once-pleasant activities become quite

difficult, and the ability to communicate in social affairs

or talking with friends becomes quite burdensome. There is

more difficulty sleeping with the occurrence of unpleasant

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dreams. The stressed individual develops a feeling of

negativism, inability to concentrate, and nameless fears.

Stage five is represented by a deepening of the stage four

symptoms along with extreme fatigue (Bensahel et al., 1984,

p. 137).

The final stage can produce terrifying symptoms. This

can include heart pounding and panic caused by release of

adrenaline. There is often gasping for breath, trembling,

shivering, sweating, numb and tingling hands and feet, and

sheer exhaustion. The symptoms of stress are frequently

conflicting and confusing. The stress disorder is

essentially a step-by-step exhaustion of the body s fuel

reserves (Bensahel et al., 1984, p. 139)

During the early 1980s, workers compensation claims

nearly tripled for those reporting stress related illness

due to work (Schor, 1991, p. 11). There has been a dramatic

increase in the number of stress related illnesses,

particularly among women. Jobs have been a major

contributing factor to this stress. Only one-forth of wives

with children held paying jobs outside the home in the

1960s. By the 1990s, two-thirds of American wives were

involved in paying jobs outside the home. Not only are

women working more, but they are working more long hours.

These increased hours on the job create less time for home

life activities (Schor, 1991, p. 25).

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Now that many households require both parents to work

and with more women entering the workforce, companies are

paying closer attention to the women in their companies and

are becoming more concerned for quality family life.

Companies have developed flexible hours for working mothers,

while also implementing child daycare programs within the

organization. This helps working mothers the freedom to

arrange work around family (Kizer, 1987, p.36).

To help reduce stress and improve the quality of life,

many organizations are becoming more involved in wellness

programs. With increasing health care costs, many employers

are concentrating on disease prevention and health

promotion. By putting a wellness program in place, it leads

to a healthier workforce which increases its productivity

level, reduces employee absenteeism, creates less overtime,

and it also cuts the cost of health benefits (Kizer, 1987,

p. xi).

Another reason that many companies are developing a

wellness program within the organization is the effect it

has on the bottom line. By preventing stress, an

organization has happy healthy employees which means the

quality and quantity of work will be improved. For example,

A middle manager may be a company s shining star, but if

he is living in constant disharmony at home, or if his

teenage daughter, whom he suspects is using street drugs,

did not come home until 3 a.m. last Saturday night, this

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promising manager is not going to be particularly efficient

at even routine daily tasks. A worksite wellness program

could help (Kizer, 1987, p. 36).

Another contributing factor to higher job related

stress is less leisure and vacation time. Throughout the

1980s, the amount of paid time off for employees is actually

shrinking. Many European workers are gaining vacation time,

while Americans are losing it. In the last decade, U.S.

workers have gotten less paid time off – on the order of

three and a half fewer days each year of vacation time,

holidays, sick pay, and other paid absences. (Schor, 1991,

p. 32).

Many companies faced an economic squeeze in the 1980s.

Vacations and holidays were among the cost-cutting efforts.

DuPont reduced its top vacation allotment time from seven to

four weeks. They also eliminated three of their paid

holidays a year. With the new trend of down-sizing, many

employees are fearful of job loss and therefore, spend less

time away from the workplace (Schor, 1991, p. 32).

Individuals who experience high or frequent

levels of stress need to learn to cope. High levels of

stress can effect job performance and it can also be

unhealthy. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, people need to

attempt to take responsibility for stress. Those

individuals need to learn more about stress in general and

how it effects them. They also need to develop techniques

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for monitoring personal levels of stress and develop

techniques to deal with job related stress. Employees

should look within the organization on ways to alleviate

stress and how to cope more effectively. Organizations are

often unnecessarily stressful and should be changed to

reduce the negative impact on individuals physical and

mental health (Paine, 1982, p. 21).

Three major strategies for strengthening individuals

are workshops, stress management skills, and focused short

term counseling. Introductory workshops are essential to

communicate and educate to be more mentally and physically

healthy. Such workshops which specialize in topics as time

management or relaxation techniques help to alleviate the

stress in one s life (Paine, 1982, p. 22). Finding

techniques that deal with personal stress can also be useful

in dealing with job stress. Regular aerobic exercise to

deep breathing techniques are potentially useful in stress

management. Many specialist agree that there is not any one

method to overcome the problem. One needs to realize their

own self needs and strengths in dealing with stress

management (Paine, 1982, p. 23).

There are many different ways in which you

can deal with job stress. Individuals can take on simple

self-help countermeasures. There is also help from friends,

colleagues, spouse, or other relatives. Professional help

is available from clergymen, physicians, or counselors.

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More extreme stress can be dealt with by psychotherapy or

prescription drugs. Individuals should choose

countermeasures in relation to the severity of the stress

and the problems it is causing. If one approach does not

work, they should try another (Bensahel et al., 1984, p.

153).

The worksite offers several advantages for employees

interested in making healthy lifestyle changes.

The advantages include:

MOst employees go to a worksite on a regular schedule,

thus providing opportunities for regular participation in

wellness programs.

Contact with co-workers can provide strong social support

which is believed to be a primary force in sustaining

lifestyle changes.

Opportunities for strong, steady support of the program,

as well as for promoting the concept that good health is

good for everyone.

Programs at the worksite may be less expensive to the

employee than comparable programs in the community or may

even be offered free as an employee benefit.

Because of the varity of data systems available, it is

possible to evaluate changes in an employee s health

status or other measures resulting from the program.

The most attractive feature from an employee s viewpoint

is the fact that the program is convenient.

From the employers viewpoint the benefits of worksite

health promotion for stress include:

Improved employee morale

Improved employee relations

Improved retention

Improved community relations.

Reduced absenteeism

Reduced number of hours lost to late arrivals and sick

days

What s causing stress in your life? Work, family

problems, personality clashes, money problems. They all

cause stress. Even positive events in your life such as

marriage, new job, new home, even lotto winners report

feeling stressed.

Since there s no getting around lifes problems, the

best way to manage stress is to learn better coping skills.

First pinpoint the reasons for stress in your life. Then try

changing your attitude about them.

Learn what you can control and accept the things you

cannot. Practice self talk (this to shall pass, Some day we

will laugh about this, or Its a learning experience).

Keep your perspective. Ask yourself, Will I remember

this in five years? Try to find the positive side to a

stressful situation. Do not worry about things that may

never happen.

Practice positive self talk, for example, I can do

this, or I m in control. Negative self talk such as, I

have to be perfect, or I can t do this, produces more

stress.

Take action to manage stress. Changes and stress create

energy. Are you using that energy to continue toward your

goals? Or are you letting stress make you unhappy and

unproductive? Take action to control your stress, both at

work and at home.

Manage your time better- make a to do list. Make it

realistic so you can do the things listed and set

priorities. Break task into bite size chunks. Delagate

as much as possible. Keep in mind that tomorrow is

another day and accept the fact that you may not get

everything done today.

Make sure you are communicating effectively- Go into

stressful meetings as fully prepared as possible.

Organize your thoughts, establish eye contact, and listen

for the whole message, including content, feelings, and

meanings. Remember that solving problems depends on give

and take. Be prepared to negotiate and compromise.

Break the tention cycle-At your desk, close your eyes,

breathe deeply and relax. Laugh with co-workers, go out

for lunch. At home, read a book, take a walk, chat with

next door neighbors. Get plenty of regular exercise and

sleep-they will help you cope better.

Get organized at home-Set daily and weekly rountines for

household chores. Delegate some chores to other family

members. Cook meals in large quantities and freeze some

for later. Plan for emergencies, keep first aid supplies

and an extra set of car keys around.

Stress can affect your self esteem and your health, if

you let it. Be kind to yourself. Relax, keep a positive

attitude and get involved in activities you enjoy. Build on

your strengths, take care of yourself. Also learn to reach

out to others. Everyone needs a support system, a network of

trustworthy people you care about and who care about you.

Share your feelings so that they don t build up. Then focus

on building positive energy.

Stress is a normal, involuntary response to any demand

made upon the body. Stress is very complex. Sources of

stress may be made either more positive or more negative by

a range of factors related to a given situation.

Stress has become a widely used yet poorly understood

term. As a result, a number of misconceptions about stress

exist. Three of the most identified misconceptions are that:

all stress is dab, stress is a part of life and there is

nothing you can do about it,and stress is caused solely and

completely by environmental factors.

Stress is very much a personal condition, and

individuals vary in their ability to cope with different

forms and levels of stress. An example of this stress on a

personal note would be co-worker conflict. When this stress

occurs co-workers should discuss this matter privately. If

possible, arrange your meeting on neutral grounds. Approach

the person in a non threating manner. Respond to them with:

I would like to talk something over with you. Try to make

the other person feel less defensive or angry. Do not blame

the other person. Listen closely to the other person.

Understanding the other point of view may help you feel less

stressful. Focus on ways to solve the problem. In this I

mean do not revisit every past negative incident,this may

distract from the resolution. Finally if none of the above

work, seek help. If necessary talk with an employee

assistance counselor who can help develope ground rules for

such discussions and promote respectful communications.

Stress is a complex process. It can arise in white

collar as well as in blue collar workers. Surveys have found

little difference between white and blue collar workers in

terms of complaints, health, life satisfaction, depression.

or other indicattors of stress.

Shift workers are thought to be more susceptible to

stress-related illnesses. Because of personal involvement

with the disruption in basic sleep patterns and disruption

in social life. Since every situation is unique, there are

probaly as many separate sources of stress as there are work

situation. This may is important to recognise when seeking

to evaluate working enviroments for sources of stress.

Never the less sources of work related stress can be

grouped into four general catagories.

Work load-which means stress resulting from to much

work,to little work, work that is to hard or to easy.

Work conditions-refers to a wide variety of factors

including organization structure, such as job loss,change

in work, and similar factors.

Work patterns- pertains to shiftwork, repetive work,

paced work

Work roles- Which can be stressful because of role

expectations with efficient use of resources and staff.

Employers may also wish to introduce an EAP, which

provides an effective strategy for assisting employees with

personal and work related problems.

Where organizations believe it would be necessary to

make decisions about the quality of the proposed program.

Such decisions should be made on the basis of a well defined

set od criteris. The following set of eight criteria for

evaluating and selecting a stress intervention program is

suggested.

1. A program should be conducted on both the organizational

and individual level.

2. Content should be work related, but aim at reducing

unwanted stress effects which may result from social, or

personal factors.

3. Program should be based on valid research findings and

conducted by qualified personnel.

4. Program should include regular and on going evaluation

of its effectiveness in meeting program objectives.

5. Should include follow up evaluations, consultations, and

refresher sessions for techniques learned.

6. Program should aim to affect both the attitudes and the

behavior of participants.

7. Program for individual stress mangement should be

flexible with goals which are reasonable, rather easily

achieved, promoting high success rates, and participation

should be voluntary.

8. Program should be chosen or constructed and implemted on

on the basis of close cooperation between mangement,

employees, and professionals in the field.

Employers and employees share responsibility for the

maintenance of a healthy and safe working enviroment.

Employers are by law obligated to provide a safe working

intervention, formal and informal, is shared responsibility

and calls for a coperative effort.

In general people react badly with either to little or to

much stress.

In basic terms,stress is one aspect of living that can be

beneficial when it motivates,encourages changes or

inspire.

Bensahel,Jane,Goodloe,Alfred,and Kelly,John. (1984).

Managing Yourself-How to Control Emotion,Stress,and

Time. New York: Franklin Watts.

Kizer, William M. (1987). The Healthy WorkPlace.

New York: John Wiley and Sons

Paine, Whiton Stewart. (1982). Job Stress and Burnout.

Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.

Schor,Juliet B. (1991). The Overworked American.

New York: Basic Books.

Cooper and Marshall. (1985) Stress in the Workplace

Job Stress