Stress on the Job:
Understanding Work Related Stress
Everyone inevitably reaches a point in their life wherein working has absorbed most of their everyday lives. While the wide range of interests translate to differing lines of work and professions, all of these falls under the paid work category. Paid work is necessary for most people. As individuals grow older, get married or raise families, needs and wants grow with them. Increasing needs and wants require money.
Aside from the necessity of doing paid work, another factor contributes to the stronghold that work has established in the lives of most people. This is the changing pace of the global economy in general. Today, work has become increasingly fast-paced and modern. Jobs have become more and more demanding with respect to skills, dedication and most of all, time.
Work has both positive and negative effects on an individual. On one hand, work can be challenging, rewarding and fulfilling both intellectually and financially. Work entitles an individual something to look forward to, something to strive for and something to learn about. Work can be viewed in this sense, as a learning process. Unfortunately, the effects of work do not end here. Work can be so demanding that it can bestow significant amounts of stress on an individual’s mental and physical health.
What is Stress?
According to ERIC Digest, “stress is an interaction between individuals and any source of demand (stressor) within their environment.” In other words, stress stems from an interaction between an individual and a stressor. A stressor can be a person, an object or an event that the individual perceives to be potentially unsettling. Stress comes about when the individual’s ability to cope is exceeded or overtaken by the stressor.
The level of stress that an individual can experience at work is highly relative. This means that it is dependent on the ability of the individual to cope with the stressor. While some consider balancing their work with their family affairs as their primary stressor, others may consider work conditions as their primary stressor. The two examples are very different from one another yet they cause the same thing, stress. Despite the different levels of stress that can be experienced, the effects of stress are easily distinguishable.
Manifestations of Stress
There are numerous manifestations of stress in the workplace. The more general and common manifestations includes absenteeism, anxiety, low productivity, low morale and sickness.
On a more personal level, manifestations range from mental disorders to serious physical ailments. Depression, heart diseases, ulcers and recurring pain are quite common among individuals experiencing severe work stress.
Understanding Work Stress
Because of the differing ability of individuals to cope with the stressor, there is no one particular aspect that can be conclusively changed to reduce stressors. Altering one stressor could lead to the creation of a new stressor for other individuals. Therefore, intervention must be made with caution and knowledge regarding the primary stressor of particular groups of people or organization.
On the personal level, work stress can be minimized by developing one’s ability to cope and exercise job control. Job control is a concept wherein the individual is able to actively influence the work environment, so that a certain sense of control can be felt. Opening up to the workplace, interacting with others, making necessary changes and arrangements and demanding certain privileges are necessary to obtain a sense of control over one’s work-life. By doing this, the individual makes the work a rewarding experience as oppose to a threatening one.
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