Whether you are onboarding new employees, or implementing new documents for existing employees, there are some basic concepts that cover bot...
Health and safetyOctober 25, 2016
Long working hours, insufficient breaks, lack of resources and unrealistic deadlines all contribute to workplace stress. As can relationships with co-workers and managers, especially if these relationships involve conflict, harassment or bullying.
Stress is an important element of life, without stress there would be little constructive activity.
Stress can be beneficial when the:
Stress is harmful when:
We can also experience stress through boredom. This occurs when the workplace does not provide enough challenge or motivation.
But each of us responds to these stressors differently. So a work environment that just makes one person feel a little uptight might push another person to breaking point.
When an individual experiences stress, it not only impacts on their work behaviour but also the broader work environment and their health. Indeed, psychological injury is recognised as the most costly type of workers’ compensation claim.
The impact of stress in the workplace may be manifested in:
Identifying the signs and symptoms of employee stress, and working proactively to address and resolve problems, can reduce the impact that these issues have on the individual and the workplace.
All the following issues have been identified as potential stressors in workplaces:
The good news is, with some thought, some effort and even just a few simple changes, a company can take steps to ensure that employees are not subjected to unnecessary stress, including:
Helping employees learn to cope with personal stress, to balance their home and work lives, and to build stress resilience can benefit everyone. Consider helping employees by doing the following things:
All organisations will have some degree of stress among their employees. Stress is a part of life. The keys are in seeking solutions that target the sources of workplace stress, and teaching people to cope with those personal and professional stressors that are inevitable.