The shrill blaring of the alarm drills into your brain and jolts you
out of your restless sleep. With eyes heavy as lead, you drag your aching
body to work. Nowadays, with half the people gone, you have to go flat
out or risk being downsized next - but your incompetent boss doesn't
really care. You stay late, then there's a traffic jam, heavy rain,
and more bad news on the radio. Getting home is no relief - usually
when you see your spouse it's one big fight - mostly about money. The
kids are a worry too - and thinking about work stops you sleeping again.
Sounds like a bad dream? It is, but parts of it are reality for many
people today. Workplace stress can wreck your health and career and
jeopardize personal and family happiness. Stress is very bad for business,
it's a major factor in injuries, absenteeism and illness - costing an
estimated $2600 per year per employee!
Certain jobs such as air traffic controller have always been considered
stressful, but research shows that secretaries actually suffer more
stress than controllers. Why? Little control over a heavy workload,
a vague role, low status - and low pay. Work stress is not related to
any specific occupation, but to how well we are suited to our work -
and how much control we have. An incompetent, unappreciative or vindictive
boss can make any workplace intolerable. On the other hand, people cope
pretty well with even the toughest, dirtiest job if there's some meaningful
result at the end of the day - a product, a worthwhile service - or
a big pay cheque.
Stress is really a situation in which our problems seem bigger than
we are - for more than a short time. To cope, we must become equal to
our problems, if possible by reducing them but also by making ourselves
stronger. What aspects of your job give you most stress? Is it excessive
workload; rapid changes; uncertainty about your role; lack of support
and feedback from management; boredom; dealing with difficult people;
shift work; commuting and travel; noise, pollution, danger; balancing
work and family commitments - or all of the above? Listing problems
on paper helps you find creative solutions.
How can workplace stress be alleviated?
Employers must recognize the massive human and financial cost. Although
most employers say they can't afford programs to reduce it, the reality
is that they cannot afford not to - there's good evidence that reducing
harmful stress will improve productivity and reduce losses. Effective
options include: listening to employee's concerns and actually doing
something; changing stress producing policies; identifying , educating,
elevating or replacing toxic managers; providing information and opportunities
for dealing with work, personal and health problems - and assisting
people in balancing work and family commitments.
Society should find ways to enable a parent to interrupt their career
to raise young children - without loss of seniority or benefits and
without excessive financial penalty. Children are our most valuable
investment!
Individuals must take responsibility for their health, time, money,
relationships and their responses to workplace problems. Will stress
destroy us - or present an opportunity for personal growth and greater
happiness? It's our choice!.
Dr. Rainham is the author of The Stress of Working and creator of The
Stress of Working Resource. For more information on work and life stress, call 1-800-771-5776
