Stress Prevention Guidelines
Although it is not possible to give a universal prescription for preventing stress at work, it is possible to offer guidelines on the process of stress prevention in organizations.
In all situations, the process for stress prevention programs involves three distinct steps:
- problem identification and analysis
- intervention
- evaluation
For this process to succeed, organizations need to be adequately prepared. At a minimum, preparation for a stress prevention program should include the following:
- building general awareness about job stress (causes, costs, and control)
- securing top management commitment and support for the program
- incorporating employee input and involvement in all phases of the program
- establishing the technical capacity to conduct the program (e.g., specialized training for in-house staff or use of job stress consultants)
Bringing workers or workers and managers together in a committee or problem-solving group may be an especially useful approach for developing a stress prevention program. Research has shown these participatory efforts to be effective to deal with ergonomic problems in the workplace, partly because they capitalize on workers' firsthand knowledge of hazards encountered in their jobs. However, when forming such working groups, care must be taken to be sure that they are in compliance with current labor laws.
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3-8. What can be an especially useful approach for developing a stress prevention program?
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