STRESS AT THE WORKPLACE
Stress
at the workplace is very common in organizations today, as there is intense
competition and all industries are under lot of pressure to make early
deliveries to their customers, as they are under pressure from the customers
who have their own deadlines and commitments.
In
any company, there are different people with different personalities and while
working together there may be clashes on some work issues. When an employee’s
role is not clearly defined and what is expected from him is not clear, there
is a role ambiguity causing stress. Similarly, role overload, role changes,
role isolation and role erosion and role stagnation also cause stress at the
workplace. Sometimes, there may overlapping of roles, with two persons doing
the same job. Sometimes, some employees may feel that they have no work due to
appointment of new staff. When there is
lot of work pressure and short delivery times, the employees are under lot of
stress to complete the work in time. Conflicts and strained relationships with
the manager or boss or colleagues also cause stress. When employees suffer, the
organization also suffers, as the profits and growth of the organization are
dependent on the co-operation and hard work of the employees. Hence “A Study on the Stress level at Work” is undertaken to find out the
exact causes of stress and take necessary steps to reduce stress at the
workplace in the interest of the employees and the organization.
STRESS !!!!! STRESS !!!!! STRESS!!!!!
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| STRESS !!!! STRESS !!!! STRESS! !!! |
Stress has become a common feature of people’s life in the modern world.
Stress is everywhere, in the family, business organization, enterprise, institute
or any other social or economic activity. Right from birth till death, a person
is individual invariably exposed to various stressful situations despite
tremendous advancement in science and
technology and remarkable growth of economy.
Stress at the workplace is a serious problem all
over the world which affects the productivity of organizations and also the mental
and physical health of the employees.
Work-related stress arises where work demands of various types and
combinations exceed the person’s capacity and capability to cope. Stress comes from several aspects
of an employee’s life: the workplace, social factors, and
personal factors.
Stress
has been defined in different ways over the years. Originally, it was conceived
of as pressure from the environment, then as strain within the person. The
generally accepted definition today is one of interaction between the situation
and the individual. It is the psychological and physical state that results
when the resources of the individual are not sufficient to cope with the
demands and pressures of the situation. Thus, stress is more likely in some
situations than others and in some individuals than others. Stress can
undermine the achievement of goals, both for individuals and for organizations.
Many aspects of the workplace can
lead to employee stress. One of the main causes of employee stress is change. Change can come in many forms: changes
in the industry, changes in the organization’s strategies, organizational
restructuring, policy changes, changes in responsibilities, and the addition of
new equipment or technology. The work environment itself may also be a source
of stress. Working conditions, lighting, inadequate equipment, an uncomfortable
work station, physically demanding work, and shift work are all sources of
workplace stress.
Budget constraints, downsizing,
fear of job loss and loss of benefits, layoffs, outsourcing, shorter work
weeks, cuts in overtime, overflow of duties from not hiring new employees to
fill positions, and a slowing economy all lead to worker insecurity and this in
turn leads to worker stress. Such downsizing, in turn, leads to stress factors
such as work overloads, hectic routines, infrequent breaks, long work hours,
increased pressure, staff shortages and personnel problems, time pressure and
deadlines.
The introduction of new technology
and equipment also leads to stress. Computer problems, incomprehensible jargon
in manuals, lack of training, learning new skills, slow processing times, and
unrealistic expectations are all stress factors introduced by the addition of
new technology and equipment into the workplace.
Dissatisfaction with the job can
also lead to stress in the workplace. Factors such as barriers to achievement,
harassment, lack of control over work, lack of feedback, lack of promotion,
losing status, low pay, high performance expectations, poor work organization,
role ambiguity, role conflict, uncertain job expectations, and unpredictable
demands on time are all stresors that lead to job dissatisfaction.
Other workplace factors that lead
to workplace stress include deregulation, international competition, management
decision making, too many meetings, unproductive meetings, urgent important
tasks, job demands, and under-utilization of abilities.
Contact SKANDA SOLUTIONS : 9480702107
Website :
Email : skanda.soln@gmail.com
