STRESS

MANAGEMENT
by HCL

STRESS
MEANING:
The word stress is derived from the Latin word "stringi", which means, "to be drawn
tight".

DEFINITION:
Stress can be defined as follows:
1.

In medical terms stress is described as, "a physical or psychological stimulus

that can produce mental tension or physiological reactions that may lead to
illness." When you are under stress, your adrenal gland releases corticosteroids,
which are converted to cortisol in the blood stream. Cortisol have an immune
suppressive effect in your body.

2.

According to Richard S Lazarus, stress is a feeling experienced when a person

thinks that "the demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is
able to mobilize."

Your body tries to adjust to different circumstances or continually changing

environment around you. In this process, the body is put to extra work resulting in
"wear and tear". In other words, your body is stressed. Stress disturbs the body's normal
way of functioning.
Without stress, there would be no life. However, excessive or prolonged stress can be
harmful. Stress is unique and personal. A situation may be stressful for someone but the
same situation may be challenging for others. For example, arranging a world level
symposium may be challenging for one person but stressful to another. Some persons
have habit of worrying unnecessarily.
Stress is not always necessarily harmful. Hans Selye said in 1956, "stress is not
necessarily something bad, it all depends on how you take it. The stress of
exhilarating, creative successful work is beneficial, while that of failure, humiliation or
infection is detrimental." Stress can be therefore negative, positive or neutral. Passing in
an examination can be just stressful as failing.
Sometime we know in advance that doing a certain thing will be stressful, but we are
willing to doing that. For example, while planning a vacation to a hill station you know
that it would be stressful at certain times. But you are willing to face those challenges.
People often work well under certain stress leading to increased productivity. Many
times you do not know in advance and the stress periods may be sudden. The situation
may not be under your control. Too much stress is harmful. You should know your level
of stress that allows you to perform optimally in your life.

CAUSES OF STRESS:
1.

Stress at Home
o

Death of spouse, family, near relative or friend.

Injury or illness of any family member.

Marriage of self or son or daughter or brother or sister.

Separation or divorce from partner.

Pregnancy or birth of a new baby.

Children's behavior or disobedience.

Children's educational performance.

Hyperactive children.

Sexual molestation.

Argument or heated conversations with spouse, family members or friends

or neighbors.

Not sufficient money to meet out daily expenses or unexpected

expenditure.

Not sufficient money to raise your standard of living.

Loss of money in burglary, pick-pocketed or share market.

Moving house.

Change of place or change of city or change of country.

2.

Stress at Work

To meet out the demands of the job.

Your relationship with colleagues.

To control staff under you.

To train your staff and take work from them.

Support you receive from your boss, colleagues and juniors.

Excessive work pressure.

To meet out deadlines.

To give new results.

To produce new publications if you are in research area.

Working overtime and on holidays.

New work hours.

Promotion or you have not been promoted or your junior has superseded

o
you.
o

Argument or heated conversations with co-workers or boss.

Change of job.

Work against will.

Harassment.

3.

Other Causes of Stress

Fear, intermittent or continuous.

Threats: physical threats, social threats, financial threat, other threats.

Uncertainty.

Lack of sleep.

TECHNIQUESS ADOPTED BY HCL:

The following are the techniques of stress management adopted by the HCL
business services:
BY PROVIDING FRINGE BENEFITS:
This is a common method in most of the company. The company reduces the
stress of the employee by providing break and lunch time during the working
hours. They are providing tea, coffee, snacks etc., to the employees. Caf Coffee
Day(CCD) and canteen have been installed in each floor for employees
relaxation.

CONDUCTING FRIDAY FUNDO:

HCL is conducting various games on every Friday in order to make the employee
free from work stress and they have separate name for that day which is called
FRIDAY FUNDO. They conduct games like Dumb-C, singing, dancing etc.,
CONDUCT PROGRAMME & CREATE AWARNESS ON WORK

LIFE BALANCE:

A stress in work may affect the personal life of an employee like family, friends
etc., They conduct a programme and create awareness on how a employee should
balance their life between work and family. Because both factor may affect an
employee badly, which will ultimately leads to lack in performance of the
employee in work.

 PROVIDES COUNSELING:
A counseling is a better way to make employee feel much better in the time of
anger, anxiety etc., In this session, the employee may tell his problems to the
counselor, the problem may be either office related or personal matters. The
counselor may provide a solution to the employees. The counselor treats
employee like a friend or like a caring person.
CULTURAL PROGRAMS:
One of the most effective technique adopted by the HCL is conducting cultural
programs to their employees every year once in a quarter. The program may
contain events like dancing, singing, competition, mono acting etc., which will
motivate their employees and reduce stress.

TEAM OUTING:
To have a relief from the work environment, the employees are taken out for a
tour with their team once in 3 months, where they can have interaction with
other teams and team members, meet new people etc., . This provides a great
relief to the worker and enhances his/her performance.
HEALTH & HAZARDOUS AWARNESS PROGRAMME:
In this programme, HCL team provides a presentation to create awareness on
health. The presentation consists of how to control your stress during working
hours, how to be fresh throughout the day etc., they also teach exercise to their
employees to control stress.

PLACE FOR PLAYING:

The company has constructed place for playing games like table tennis, carom,
basketball court etc., whenever the employee feels like stressed, he/she may go
and play for some time and have a relaxation. They may also hear music, watch
television which is also a better way to reduce stress.