Agenda What is occupational stress?
Types of Stressors
Characteristics
What is occupational stress a concern?
Occupational Stress Experienced by Women
Differences in Stress Management
Wage Comparison
Diseases and Occupational Stress
Occupational Stressors
Workaholic
Agenda Continued Burnout Pink Collar Jobs Working Mothers Women and Retirement Family-Friendly Work Policies Working in the Home Finding a Balance Interventions Managing Occupational Stress Activity References
What is occupational stress? Occupational stress is ongoing stress that is related to the workplace. The stress may have to do with the responsibilities associated with the work itself, or be caused by conditions that are based in the corporate culture or personality conflicts. As with other forms of tension, occupation stress can eventually affect one physiological and emotional well being if not managed effectively.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Types of Stressors There are 5 main types of stressors on the job that include:
Intrinsic to job
Role in organization
Career Development
Relationships at work
Organizational structure and climate
(Greenberg, 2013)
Characteristics Anxiety Neuroticism Tolerance of ambiguity Type A behavior pattern And the last source of stress comes from outside the workplace and is called extra organizational sources of stress and can include: Family problems Life crisis Financial matters Environmental factors (Greenberg, 2013)
Why is Occupational Stress a Concern? One reason occupational stress receives so much attention
is because businesses are genuinely beginning to care about employee welfare because it costs them billions of dollars.
Most of this cost is from sick days, reduced production, worker replacement costs, training, and additional retirement costs.
It is estimated that occupational stress costs society through hospital visits and such approximately 300 billion dollars a year. (Greenberg, 2013)
In 2007 82% of American said that work was their biggest source of stress and 35% also reported that their jobs negatively affected their physical or emotional well being.
(Greenberg, 2013)
©(Greenberg, 2013)
Occupational Stress Model
Occupational Stress Experienced by Women Career blocks
Sexual harassment
Male-dominated organizational structure and climates
Performance pressure
Gender Stereotyping
Isolation
Lack of role models
Opportunities for personal development
Wages business travel
Accumulative effect of minor tasks
(Greenberg, 2013)
Stress Management-Differences between Men and Women Women experience emotional stress.
Women tend to use social support to cope with occupational stress far more than men do.
Stress is due to the pressures to meet expectation to be responsible for duties inside and outside the home.
In contrast, men focus more on themselves and regard other things beyond their control.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Wage Comparison 2009 Men Women
Weekly Median Earnings (same
education level)
$819 $657
Annual Median Earnings (Management,
Business, and Financial) $65,278 $46,039
Annual Median Earnings (Professionals) $60,123 $38,649
Annual Median Earnings (traditionally
female service occupations) $20,344 $13,229
(Greenberg, 2013)
Diseases and Occupational Stress The connection between occupational stress and disease can be difficult to prove since there are other factors that contribute to stress. However, there is evidence that does support occupational stress is related to illnesses and diseases.
There are two categories: Physiological Effects and Psychological Effects.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Physiological Effects Hypertension
Serum cholesterol
Cardiovascular disease
Musculoskeletal disorders
Development of the common cold
Injury and illness
Decreased immunological system
(Greenberg, 2013)
Physiological Effects Cont’d Alcohol abuse
Coronary heart disease
Obesity
Low levels of job satisfaction
Feelings of anger and alienation
The highest rates of heart attacks on Mondays.
(Stress Psychophysiology- Chapter 2)
(Greenberg, 2013)
Psychological Effects Low self-confidence
Increased job tension
Lower job satisfaction
This results in:
Absenteeism
Poor job performance
Stress on the job
Depression
Anxiety
(Greenberg, 2013)
Occupational Stressors Working within the home has the same stressors as work outside the home:
Role overload- unable to accomplish tasks in the allotted time
Role insufficiency- lack of specific training
Role conflict- having to answer to multiple people
Role ambiguity- expectations are not clear
(Greenberg, 2013)
Job Satisfaction When employees are satisfied with there work place conditions, there is;
Higher levels of job performance
Lower levels of absenteeism
Less tardiness
Less turnover
Increased life satisfaction
Research has shown that low levels of job demands and high levels of job control are associated with job satisfaction. (Greenberg, 2013)
Workaholic A workaholic is a person who is addicted to work. How can you identify a workaholic They take work home and is engage in work during weekends
and vacation. They work more than 40 hours a week They are afraid that if they don't work hard they will lose their
job or be a failure They do not care about the effects they have their family or other
relationships work or read during meals (Greenberg, 2013)
Effects of Workaholism:
Excessive working tendency impels secretions of brain chemicals that overloads the system and makes intoxicated. The sense of self-importance in workaholics is a result of their impaired thinking.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Workaholics often suffer: Headaches
Allergies
Exhaustion
Indigestion
Stomachaches
(Stress and Illness/Disease-
Chapter 3)
Ulcers
Chest pains
Dizziness
High blood pressure
Cardiovascular disease
(Greenberg, 2013)
How to overcome Workaholism Change your values so that work is no longer the most
important thing in your life.
Evaluate the impact of the various types of work you do.
Limit the amount of time you spend working.
Limit the number of work assignments you accept.
Build relationships with your coworkers, family and friends.
Develop a daily or weekly routine of non-work activities.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Burnout Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.
Includes 3 dimensions:
Emotional exhaustion – feeling emotionally depleted and tired
Depersonalization – feeling detached from the work and worksite.
Lack of personal achievement – feeling incompetent and lack in achievement at work.
(Article- Compassion Fatigue)
(Greenberg, 2013)
How Burnouts Develop? Stage one (Honeymoon) – the worker is satisfied with the
job and remains enthusiastic towards work.
Stage two (fuel shortage) – fatigue sets in, the worker starts to show symptoms like drug abuse, difficulty sleeping etc.
Stage three (chronic symptoms) – overwork leads to physical (exhaustion, susceptibility to diseases etc.) and psychological effects (anger, depression).
Stage four (crisis) – actual illness can develop that result in the worker not being able to attend work
Stage five (hitting the wall) – physical and psychological problems can become severe enough to cause illness that is life threatening.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Symptoms of Burnout Diminished sense of humor.
Feeling tired and drained most of the time.
Change in appetite or sleep habits.
Change job performance .
Social withdrawal
Increased physical complaints (headaches, back pain, muscle aches)
Increase overtime and no vacation
Self-medication – increased use of alcohol, tranquilizers, and other mood-altering drugs.
Internal changes – emotional exhaustion, loss of self esteem, depression, frustration.
(Greenberg, 2013)
How to Preventing Burnouts Start the day with a relaxing ritual.
Adopt healthy eating, exercising, and sleeping habits.
Set boundaries.
Take a daily break from technology
Nourish your creative side.
Learn how to manage stress.
(Greenberg, 2013)
© www.helpguide.org
Pink Collar Jobs Preschool or
kindergarten teachers
Teacher assistants
Nurses or Personal Support Workers
Dental hygienists or Dental assistants
Medical assistants
(Greenberg, 2013)
Hair dressers
Child care Workers
Bookkeepers
Receptionist/Secretaries
Typists/Word Processors
Retail Workers/Cashiers
Maids/Housekeepers
Working Mothers
Work-Weekly Earnings/Indicators of Well-being in Canada. http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/[email protected]?iid=18
Women and Retirement Retirement benefits are based on earnings accumulated during a working career. Many women do not have enough saved to last them though retirement. Women make less money than men. Most women tend to work in part time positions and
do not qualify for pension plans. Women who do receive pension plan are receiving
approximately half the amount that men receive. Women accumulate less retirement assets because
they tend to invest more conservatively.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Women and Retirement Cont’d Women are more likely to take time off to care for
family members, working fewer years and resulting in lower contributions towards retirement.
About half of the wage and salaried women (ages 21 to 64) participated in retirement plans.
Divorced women earn less money than married women and they receive less social security income.
Women tend to live longer than men.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Working in the Home Traditionally women have performed this role; however, more men are choosing to work in the home. Many people down play the importance, the difficulty, and the skills required to work within the home.
What are the different skills required for working inside the home?
(Greenberg, 2013)
Re-entering the work force The decision to return back to work is different from women to women;
financial reasons
maternity benefits have ended
children are attending school
In any case, women may feel the need to upgrade their skills or change careers completely. Post-secondary education is more accessible to mature students through evening or online courses. This adds to more stress. (Stress of the College Student- Chapter 4)
Finding a Balance Finding a balance between work and family or work and school can be difficult to balance. There are three theories to help us recognize when we are unbalanced.
Spillover Theory states that a change in one domain will
have effects on the other domain. Compensation Theory states that when one is not happy
in domain, resources are spent on the other domain. Resource Drain Theory states that resources are
consumed in one domain leaving less resources for the other domain.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Family-Friendly Work Policies Child or Elder care- some companies are willing to help
with expenses
Job Sharing- two people share a full time position
Flexible Work Schedules-allows employees more freedom
Home Based work- allow employees to work from home
Health Promotion Programs-programs or activities are offered to staff
These policies are necessary due to effects work stress on the employees’ family life, as well as, the effects of employees’ family stress on work place productivity.
(Family Stress-Chapter 17) (Greenberg, 2013)
Interventions
There are four different kinds of interventions that will intervene between occupational stress and its negative consequences by changing life situations, our perception or cognitive appraisal of those situations, or our emotional reactions, or by doing something physical to use up the stress by-product.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Life-Situation Interventions Is not mixing work with ones home life or well-being. Ways in which to achieve this are Quitting that job Asking for change in job responsibilities Organizing time better Saying no to additional responsibilities Don’t take work home Turning off cell phones, or checking emails/instant messages Take a full hour for lunch Not discussing business on lunch Discuss feelings when they are developed (Greenberg, 2013)
Perception Intervention Is recognizing that your perceptions are as important as the actual events causing that stress
Ways in which to achieve this are
Look for humour to your stressors at work
Try to see things for what they really are
Distinguish between need and desire
Separate your self-worth from the task
Identify situations and employ the appropriate style of coping
(Perception Interventions- Chapter 8)
(Greenberg, 2013)
Emotional Arousal Interventions Is taking time to oneself and using any relaxation technique, to prevent occupational stress
Ways in which to achieve this are
Find a calm relaxing place
Doing what relaxation technique is right for you
(Greenberg, 2013)
Physical Arousal Interventions Is taking time to exercise in order to use up the stress products that are being created by occupational stress
Ways in which to achieve this are
If there is a gym or outside exercise area at your job, USE IT
Join exercise clubs
Exercise on your own
(Greenberg, 2013)
Managing Occupational Stress
Occupational stress may be hard to define and notice because of the personal stressors people bring to their jobs and different personality characteristics, but it is obvious to us all when we are experiencing it. In reality we can manage occupational stress by using the stress model to set up roadblocks between occupational stress and illness and disease.
(Greenberg, 2013)
This can be done by
Changing jobs
Look at the stressors as challenges rather than burdens
Practice relaxation techniques regularly
Exercise regularly
Most importantly frowning and ignoring if wont help, neither will complaining… help is always available.
(Greenberg, 2013)
Managing Occupational Stress Continued
Activity As you have been listening to our presentation, what has your posture been like?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo470b4SvlM
For viewing our presentation Do have a stress free day!
References Greenberg, Jerrold S., 2013. Comprehensive Stress Management (13th ed.). N. Y., N.Y: McGraw-Hill
Preventing Burnout: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Coping Strategies. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/burnout_signs _symptoms.htm
What Is Occupational Stress? (with picture). Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what- is- occupational-stress.htm
References Work-Weekly Earnings/Indicators of Well-being in Canada. Retrieved from http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/.3ndic.1t.4r@- eng.jsp?iid=18
Yoga at Your Desk or at Your Work- Sitting Yoga Poses & Breathing Exercises- You Tube Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo470b4SvlM