Stress Management (Electronic book text)

Feeling stressed? Take a deep breath and start reading here The American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines job stress as: The harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. This is not to be confused with the concept of challenge, which can be stimulating and energizing, motivating workers to learn new skills and master their jobs. Meeting a challenge gives a sense of satisfaction and relaxation. When people refer to positive stress these challenges are what they are usually meaning. Health and safety organizations are taking an interest in stress because, whilst short-lived bursts of stress pose little risk to the individual, on-going or chronic stress causes undue wear and tear on the body and ultimately increases the likelihood of illness or injury. From sleep disturbance to hypertension, and from relationship problems to mental illness, the range of conditions that have been linked with workplace stress is enormous. And more and more people are reporting increased stress levels associated with their jobs. A Northwestern National Life survey of workers found that 40% of respondents reported their jobs to be very or extremely stressful and 25% considered them to be the major stressor in their lives. (Employee burnout: America's newest epidemic, Northwestern National Life Company, 1991) Subsequently, a Families and Work Institute survey found 26% of workers who said they were often or very often burned out or stressed by work. (The 1997 national study of the changing workforce, 1998).(All figures from NIOSH online information at: http: //www.cdc.gov/niosh) When it is appreciated that these statistics stem from before the current downturn in the national economy and consequent round of job cuts and business failures, present stress levels amongst managers in the US can only be guessed at If you suspect that you or employees in your organization may be suffering from the ill-effects of stress, take a look at our Stress Management Briefing