Introduction

Employee Stress is an increasing problem in organizations Examples Employees feel they are stressed from greater workloads and having to work longer hours because of downsizing of their companies Parents talk about the lack of job stability in todays world

According to survey by the workspace provider Regus conducted among over 16,000 professionals worldwide, over half (51 per cent) of Indian respondents said their stress levels have risen over the past year

Work Stress
Stress
A dynamic condition in which an individual is confronted with an opportunity, demand, or resource related to what he or she desires and for which the outcome is perceived to be both uncertain and important.

Demands
Responsibilities, pressures, obligations, and even uncertainties that individuals face in the workplace How person feel Anxious Depressed/ tired Angry/ irritable/ frustrated Apathetic/ bored

Resources
Things within an individuals control that can be used to resolve demands How person behaves Have accidents/ make mistakes Eating/ Sleeping problems Take drugs Problematic social behaviour
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Signs of Stress

A Model of Stress

Potential Sources of Stress

Environmental Factors Organizational Factors
Economic uncertainties of the business cycle

Political uncertainties of political systems demands related to the Task Technological uncertainties ofjob technical innovations Individual Factors

demands of functioning an organization Role Terrorism in threats to physicalin safety and security Interpersonal demands created by other employees
Organizational structure (rules and regulations)
Organizational leadership (managerial style)

Family and personal relationships

Economic problems from exceeding earning capacity Personality problems arising for basic disposition

Organizations life stage (growth, stability, or decline)

Individual Difference to stress tolerance

Some people thrive the situations, while others are overwhelmed by them What is it that differentiates people in terms of their ability to handle stress ? What individual difference variables moderates the relationship potential stressors and experienced stress?
Perception Personality

Variables
Social Support

Job Experience

Perception
Employees react in response to their perception of reality rather than to reality itself Example - Company Laying off Personnel

Job Experience
Evidence indicates : Experience on job 1/(Work Stress)

Why

Idea of Selective Withdrawal

Develop Coping Mechanisms

Social Support
Collegial relationships with coworkers or supervisors can buffer the impact of Stress

Act as a PalliativeMitigating the negative effects of even high strain job

Personality
Sense of time urgency

Type A

Opposite of A

Type B

Hardly Relax

No Sense of Urgency Relaxed by Nature

Competetive

Hostile & Aggressive

Not get Stressed easily

Other Factors
Optimism General tendency to expect good outcomes Michael Scheier and Charles Carver (1985) found a correlation between optimism and relatively good physical health in a sample of college students (Scheier et al., 1989)- Surgical patients, optimism was found to be associated with a faster recovery and a quicker return to normal activities after coronary artery bypass surgery Sensation Seeking Generalized preference for high or low levels of sensory stimulation Marvin Zuckerman (1971, 1979, 1990), High level=> Like activities that may involve some physical risk, such as mountain climbing, water rafting, and travel to unusual places

Consequences of stress

Stress shows itself in number of ways Physiological Symptoms Psychological Symptoms Behavioral Symptoms

1. Physiological Symptoms
Mouth: Ulcers Cardiovascular system: Heart attack, migraine, hypertension Digestive system: ulcers, diabetes, loss of appetite Reproduction system: impotency Lungs: Asthma, difficulty in breathing, dizziness Loss of hair Muscular-skeletal system: beck-ache, Neck-ache, head-ache, gnashing of teeth

2. Psychological Symptoms
Job-related stress cause job-related dissatisfaction Lack of clarity about responsibility and authority and low level of variety, significance, autonomy, feedback causes Job-related stress Stress-related psychological problems include: Anxiety, depression, anger and aggression, tension, nervousness, insane, boredom, forgetfulness, irritability

3. Behavioral Symptoms

Behavior-related stress symptoms include:

Decreasing productivity Absence Changes in eating habits Increased smoking or alcohol consumption Rapid speech Sleep disorders Fidgeting Annoy social gathering

Inverted U relation between stress and job performance

Consequences of Stress

Physiological Symptoms

Psychological Symptoms

Behavioural Symptoms

Consequences of Stress on Job

Sources of Workplace Stress

Demandi ng boss

Annoyin g coworkers

Rebellio us students

Angry custome rs

Hazardo us conditio ns

Long commut es

Neverending workloa d

Family Relationsh ip

Finance s

Effects of Job Stress

When job stress turns chronic, it can really threaten our physical and emotional health There may be chances of developing heart disease, diabetes type 2 because of link between chronic job stress and metabolic syndrome Workers with higher level of job stress experience a greater incidence of the common cold Link between high job stress and lower level of mental stress

Most and Least Stressful Job

According to the survey of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

5 Least Stressful Jobs

Forester Book Binder Telephone Line worker Toolmaker Millwright

5 Most Stressful Jobs

School Teacher Police officer Miner Air traffic Controller Medical Intern

Managing Stress
Organization Standpoint
Low to moderate level of stress may be functional and leads to higher employee performances But high level of stress or even low levels sustained over a long periods, can lead to reduced employee performance.

Employee Standpoint
Even low level of stress are likely to be perceived as undesirable. What management may considers to be a positive stimulus that keeps the adrenaline running is likely to be seen as excessive pressure by the employee.

Two Approaches for Managing Stress

Individual Approach

Organizational Approach

Individual Approach
Implementing time management Increasing physical exercise Relaxation training Expanding social support network

Organizational Approach
Improved personnel selection and job placement Training Use of realistic goal setting Redesigning of jobs Increased employee involvement Improved organizational communication Offering employee sabbaticals Establishment of corporate wellness programs

Thank You !

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