Stress in Today's Workplace
The American Institute of Stress (AIS) reveals that 80 percent of us feel stress on the job and almost half say they need help in managing that stress.
Stress is about taking or losing control on the job.
What is Job Stress?
Job stress is commonly thought of as physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension in response to perceived demands and expectations employees experience in the workplace. It is also influenced by their relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and managers.
It's important to think of stress as a continuum. The type of stress employees experience depends on what they believe and feel. Stress is about taking or losing control on the job as follows:
- Negative stress, or distress, may result in harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. If employees no longer believe they have adequate KSAs and, consequently feel they are not in control, the stress they experience will more likely be negative. Signs and symptoms of negative stress in employees include increased blood pressure, insomnia, taking unsafe shortcuts, inattention, and irritability.
- Positive stress, also called eustress, is physiological response employees experience when good things happen and they feel in control. As long as employees believe they have adequate knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), and feel in control of the job, the stress they experience will be most likely positive. They will think, "I can do this," and they feel confident in meeting performance expectations. Positive stress may result in increased productivity, working safe, helping other employees, and improved morale.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-1. Stress in the workplace is about taking or losing _____.
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