Presented by: Jennifer Savariau-Morris

Occupational Stress

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Occupational stress is a major hazard for many workers.

Increased workloads, downsizing, overtime, hostile work environments, and shift work are just a few of the many causes of stressful working conditions.

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What is occupational stress?

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The human body has a natural chemical response to a threat or demand, commonly known as the “flight or fight” reaction. Once the threat or demand is over the body can return to its natural state

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• A STRESSOR is an event or set of conditions that causes a stress response

• STRESS is the body’s physiological response to the stressor

• STRAIN is the body’s longer-term reaction to chronic stress

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Occupational stress can affect your health when the stressors of the workplace exceed the employee’s ability to have some control over their situation or to cope in other ways.

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• Workers are overburdened with workloads that remain high regardless of their efforts: the workload is the STRESSOR

• Employees feel anxious and their heart rate speeds up because they can not control their workloads: that is STRESS

• Increased blood pressure, insomnia, or chronic headaches: that is STRAIN

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What are the sources of stress?

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What are the sources of stress? • High work demand, workload, time pressures • Odd working hours• Little autonomy or control over one’s job • Inadequate resources to do the job • High demands• Lack of job security • Understaffing • Mandatory overtime• Violence/Harassment

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What are the sources of stress? • Downsizing/Privatization • Hiring freezes • Firing Eases• Contingent work (e.g. part-time or temporary) • Shift work/Rotating schedules • Quality Programs/Worker Participation

Schemes

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How does stress affect you?

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Acute, or short-term, stress causes an immediate reaction in the body. If the threat or demand passes quickly, the body generally returns to normal.

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• With prolonged stress, many health problems can develop.

• Some of the early symptoms of stress-related problems include:– Physical Symptoms– Psychological & Behavioural

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Physical Symptoms• Headaches • Stomach problems• Eating disorders • Sleep disturbances • Fatigue • Muscle aches & pains • Chronic mild illnesses

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Psychological & Behavioural • Anxiety • Irritability • Low morale • Depression • Alcohol & drug use • Feeling powerless

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If exposure to stressors continues for a longer period of time, chronic health problems can develop

Physical Conditions • High Blood Pressure • Heart disease • Stroke • Spastic colon

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• Immune system dysfunction • Diabetes • Asthma • Musculoskeletal disorders

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Psychological & Behavioural Problems• Serious depression • Suicidal behaviour • Domestic violence • Alcohol abuse • Substance abuse

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How to combat stress

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Worker• Learn better communication skills• Improve your relationships with management

and co-workers• Take steps to improve your own emotional

and physical well-being• Identify negative attitudes and knee-jerk

habits that add to the stress you experience

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Worker• Making good food choices is important• Make sure you get enough sleep• Pursue aerobic exercise• It is important to avoid alcohol or drink it in

moderation, and avoid nicotine• Make an effort to leave for work earlier in the

morning.

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Worker• Be sure to plan regular breaks• Create a schedule that is balanced• Do not over-commit yourself• Take the time to prioritize your tasks• Break up projects into smaller steps• Delegate responsibility to others• Be open and willing to compromise

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Worker• Develop the ability to respond to challenges

with humour• Realize when you are stressed• Stay connected with your internal emotional

experiences• Resolve conflicts in a positive way• Recognize and effectively use nonverbal cues

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Worker• Do not attempt to control things you cannot • Focus on positive thinking• Resist your sense of perfectionism• Get yourself organized• Be on the lookout for humour in situations• Connect with other people in your workplace• Talk about the stress with another person

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• Take a little time away

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Management• Involving workers in job and workplace design,

having input on shift schedules• Clearly define employees’ roles and

responsibilities• Consult employees about scheduling and work

rules• Provide opportunities for social interaction

among employees

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Management• Make management actions consistent with

organizational values• Make communication friendly and efficient, not

mean-spirited or petty• Give workers opportunities to participate in

decisions that affect their jobs• Share information with employees to reduce

uncertainty about their jobs and futures

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Management • Be sure the workload is suitable to employees’

abilities and resources; avoid unrealistic deadlines

• Praise good work performance, both verbally and officially, through schemes such as Employee of the Month

• Offer rewards and incentives• Show that individual workers are valued

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Discussion!

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Referenceshttp://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/psychological/workplacestress.php

http://uwf.edu/skass/documents/occupationalstressfactsheet.pdf