What Is Job Stress And How Can It Be Avoided? | Stress

By CliveCable
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It is almost inevitable that we will experience some degree of job stress at some time in our working lives. Even those that get the chance to do work they are passionate about and enjoy will still experience job stress in their careers at some stage.So many different things can lead to work stress which can't be avoided and others can easily be avoided or overcome with minimal changes in lifestyle or working practices.

Perhaps the biggest contributor to job stress or work related stress is the high and often unrealistic targets the employers set their staff. Often their achievement may be possible given realistic time frames but all to often workers face impossible targets and deadlines or are given little or no training or guidance.

Those workers keen to keep their jobs do everything within their power to achieve in line with expectations in fear of being part of the next round of downsizing, or just to avoid appearing lazy and lax at work. This constant need to impress the boss puts workers under tremendous pressure which can very easily lead to job stress.

Another category of work stress is that caused by stressful working practices. This might include over supervision of workers carrying out more menial tasks or failing to give those credit who are more capable and able to work with minimal supervision.Other contributors to job stress are discouraging work practices such as the lack of a clear job description, no recognition or reward for a good performance and the absence of opportunities to use personal talents all of which add a lot to stress.

When staff are unable to air grievances and concerns this leads to worry and discontent and even anxiety. If unchecked this can lead to a pressure cooker like working environment of over stressed workers.

Job stress can also be caused by work place bullying which is increasingly common as workers become disatisfied. Staff may bully staff who are junior or who don't fit in or just out of spite or for fun. This includes such actions as sexual harrasement,threatening or just teasing on grounds or race or religion. Some insensitive employees may even spread malicious gossip in order to destroy status or position.

On occasions bosses upset, harass and humiliate their employees in a attempt to assert their authority. Both men and women can be subjected to sexual insults, sexual discrimination which is designed to leave staff feeling humilitated and embarassed.

This kind of thing often leads to severe stress for staff who are trying both to protect themselves and carry on working. In addition to the obvious detrimental effect harassment and bullying has to the victim which leads to stress it can also damage self belief , confidence and self esteem.

We should not of course ignore a once common problem which is now thankfully less prevalent thanks to working reforms and increased awareness of health and safety issues in the work place. A once major contributor to work related stress was a poor working environment .Dirty, noisy and unsafe working areas leads to risk of stress and in extreme cases severe depression. However a well thought out, safe working area will improve productivity and worker satisfaction.

When the environment workers operate in is filled with dust or chemical fumes this can increase stress and make working almost impossible. Such situations should be avoided as they are seriously detrimental to health for a number of obvious reasons.

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