Common causes of Stress at the Workplace
Understanding common causes of stress at the workplace is crucial to resolving it. Resolution of stress is vital with respect to everyone’s mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. Identifying the sources of stress at the workplace is the first step towards effective resolution.
An article from theAmerican Psychological Association, reveals the stark reality of the effects of the economy in this era, as it relates to employers and employees:
“In today’s economic upheavals, downsizing, layoffs, mergers, and bankruptcies have cost hundreds of thousands of workers their jobs.”
Changes in the economy can affect employers and employees adversely. Anything that causes stress for employers potentially increases the stress level of employees, too. Note that the economy is only one major cause of stress in the workplace. Stress is a reality in every employment environment, whether it is recognized or not. High stress levels are more evident in some workplaces than others.
Consider some of the other potential causes of stress at the workplace, with an eye towards stress resolution.
Individual ‘baggage’:
Every employer and employee comes to a workplace with individual baggage, related to his or her personal life. Sometimes, that baggage burdens others, increasing their stress levels. Individual and group counseling strategies can help to resolve stress resulting from personal baggage.
Workplace environment factors:
Employers and employees often enter a workplace environment that has numerous environmental reasons for high stress levels. For example, is the workplace too cold in the winter and/or too warm in the summer? Is there fresh air circulating through the area? Is there sufficient lighting? Many of these issues can be resolved, once employers are aware of them and choose to resolve them.
Over-crowding in the work place:
Many work places are over-crowded, increasing the stress levels and tension between employers and employees. In other words, there may not be sufficient room to carry out individual and collective tasks. Every employer and employee needs an appropriate amount of personal space to avoid having a high stress level. This kind of stress can often be resolved in a workplace by effective management of work space.
Interpersonal relationships:
Adverse or negative interpersonal relationships often result in stress in a workplace for employers and employees alike. A conflict of personalities can affect everyone adversely. Resolution of interpersonal relationships is not always possible. Identifying inter-personal relationship problems and effective communication regarding these kinds of issues or concerns, can lead to appropriate resolution.
Pensions, benefits and salaries:
Another major factor at any workplace is financial in terms of employee pension plans, benefits and salary levels. Bonuses or promotions, as well as the lack thereof, can also cause stress. Employers and management need to address these kinds of issues with respect to their employees in order to reduce their stress levels or keep them at a minimum, as happy employees function better and are more productive than unhappy ones.
Technological advances:
Technology advances and workplace changes often result in employer and employees stress, even when the transitions will ultimately prove to be beneficial. No one likes change and thus, resistance to transition can be a major cause of workplace stress. Introducing changes carefully and cautiously can help to reduce stress levels. Remember that with technological changes, there is fear related to job loss and employees need reassurance in this regard.
Union and non-union issues:
The introduction of unions in a workplace can be a source of stress, but at times, this can also prove beneficial in terms of stress resolution. Many issues and concerns can be resolved through unions, when dealt with rightly.
Potential health hazards:
Every workplace has potential health hazards that can affect employers and employees, including non-sanitary conditions that may lead to the spread of infection. Most health issues are resolvable when there is a focus on awareness, measures of hygiene are introduced and education on disease prevention.
Many of the common causes of stress in the workplace can be resolved even though major economic factors can be unpredictable. It is everyone’s responsibility to keep stress at a minimum, so that employers and employees can work effectively.
