Stress in the workforce is becoming a growing phenomenon. In one U.S. study as many as 40% of workers described their jobs as very stressful. The need to succeed, the need to just make ends meet, and the need to provide for family are all stressors that we face everyday. Workforce stress affects the performance of the brain, including functions of work performance; memory, concentration, and learning. Over 13 million working days a year are lost to stress, and stress related illnesses. Stress is believed to trigger 70% of all doctor visits.

Stress and Health

Stress is caused by various factors – not all of course are work related. The cause of stress – called stressors, can be divided into two categories: external stressors and internal stressors.

External Stressors are physical conditions such as heat or cold, stressful psychological environments, working conditions that are rigid, abusive, demeaning and or boring.

Internal Stressors are physical ailments such as infection or inflammation, or psychological problems such as uncontrolled worrying, fixation upon problems and not answers.

Stress Effects on Health and Performance:

Stress in now known to contribute to heart disease; it can cause hypertension leading to high blood pressure, and stress impairs the immune system. Stress is also linked to irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, muscle and joint pain, and headaches. Those migraines and heartburn that you get are usually due to some stressor – for most of us it is called work.

Typical Causes of Stress at Work:

Bullying or harassment by anyone in the work force, not just management

Feeling of powerlessness in determining one’s own responsibilities.

Unreasonable time and performance demands on a continuing basis.

Lack of job security.

Feeling of extreme boredom and lack of fulfillment.

Stress in the Work Place

Ways to Cope with these Stressors:

Bullying and harassment is not only annoying and detrimental to your work environment, it can be illegal. If you have; addressed the aggressor face to face with no resolve, gone to management and have still not seen a change of behavior with the aggressor, take your case to Human Resources (if available). Most companies do have a Human Resource division to help you resolve these conflicts. If after pleading your case and still not getting the satisfaction of resolving the problem, you may have to reevaluate your work situation. You may have to look outside the company where you presently work for employment, or in severe cases, involve a lawyer, if you have just cause.

Feeling like you have little power in determining your own duties and delegations in the work force can be addressed, if it is something that can truly cause change. If you are just not happy stuffing envelopes when that is your occupation – you may need to look at yourself and what you want to do as a profession.

Ask yourself:

Is this job suited for me?

Can I do more outside of the company?

Do I need to extend my education to make a move within – or outside of the company?

If it is a matter of self-respect, self-reliance, not being micro-managed, doing things outside of the box, etc. you have reasonable issues to work through within the company.

Ask for a meeting with your supervisor to discuss:

Your current roll

What you think you could add to the company if you had more freedom to implement the changes

What ideas could you brainstorm with your management and team to have more control – yet increase productivity?

These techniques may advance your career, at the very least; they will show management that you are willing to take responsibility for yourself in the company. This is always a plus.

Unreasonable time and performance demands happen from time to time - and if they are understandable (such as a large reconstruction of the company, loss of employees, and other unusual circumstances) we sometimes just need to take a deep breath and work it though.  If however, this pattern becomes the norm, and it is taking a toll on your body, mind, health and family life - changes need to be made.  Seek advice from your supervisor first.

Time Management

Ask questions such as:

What is the duration of this situation?

Is there some way to take a personal day in the midst of this chaos to regroup and come back to work refreshed?

What can we do as a team to make this time pass quicker and with a more positive outlook?

If there seems to be a very dim light at the end of the tunnel - or the situation does not seem to be ending within a reasonable amount of time (3 months), it is time to reevaluate your condition.  Is the extra stress, overtime, long hours, extra burden worth the paycheck?  Is the situation causing me to lose sleep, be anxious, lose or gain weight, or have increased health problems?  If these negatives are taking  over the positives, I would advise looking into the possibility of finding work within the company in another position, or looking outside the company for a new job.  Life is so short, and while over time pay, may take care of a few bills, the time you lose for yourself and your family will never be recaptured.

Lack of job security is a stressor that may not be under your control.  With the economy being as unstable as it has been post September 11, 2001, there are some areas in job security that cannot be predicted.  The areas in which you do hold the reigns are:

Make sure you are prompt

Limit your sick leave as much as possible.

Come in with a great attitude and a smile on your face - regardless of how you presently feel.

Work calmly, efficiently, and finish products before or by their deadline.

Do not talk behind other co-workers back, no gossip, and no corporate tattle telling.

Follow your company's Mission Statement.

Do your best.

Employment and the Economy

Feeling of boredom or lack of fulfillment in the job place is not unusual.  If the feeling is fleeting, such as spring fever, or holiday blues - you may just have to make the most of the situation and struggle through.

You Can:

Rearrange your desk to make it more aesthetically pleasing and calming.  Change your pictures, update old ones.

If you have room, try adding a calming desk fountain, the sounds of trickling water could add a bit of tranquility to your atmosphere.

Clean your clutter.  The number one reason for feeling overwhelmed is a pile of files stacked everywhere. 

Organize your area so that the visible arena is neat, and orderly - this will also make you more efficient. 

Add a plant or some greenery for another calming effect.

If it is approved in your area, try using a drop of lavender or chamomile oil on a small porous stone to add olfactory calmness to your work area.

Shake up your routine, try and answer your emails mid-day, or check you mail at the end.  Little routine busters can update your work day and give you a sense of control.

Organizational Skills

If you find that your lack of fulfillment and boredom is growing in intensity, and lasting longer that the usual "rut", you may need to take more drastic measures.  Speak to someone in Human Resources about jobs within the company that may be more challenging. Consider going back to school to upgrade your skills or learn new ones if you decide to make a career change.  If you are feeling unusually distant towards your coworkers, uncharacteristically tired, despondent, out of touch, you may need to speak to a physician to see if there is something more serious causing your lack of interest in your job.

Employment and Education

Job Market

These are just a few of the stressors that we face in the work place, there are many more, some specific to your job description.  The main issue is that you spend at least one third of your life at work. You spend more time with your coworkers than your family and friends.  Even the most menial jobs have values within them that make them personally, professionally and humanly important.  Your life is not your job; your job is to live life.

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