Performance Indicator 5.02

Explain the nature of stress management

Definitions• 'Karoshi' is a Japanese term which means

'sudden death caused by too much work.' However, many people simply use the term stress. Stress Management for the Workplace: Understanding and Managing the Causes of Stress in Organizations | Suite101.com

http://carla-crepin-swift.suite101.com/stress-management-in-the-workplace-a123250#ixzz1fgMZz6kf

• Stress - one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium

• Burnout - exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration

Employee StressSigns

• Reduced quality of work• Indecisiveness and poor

judgment• Loss of sense of humor• More frequent minor

illnesses• Withdrawal• Over-sensitivity• Seeming jumpy• Tiredness and irritability• http://www.stressmanagementplus.com/identifying_the_sig

ns.htm

Causes• The “treadmill syndrome –

having too much or too little to do

• Random interruptions – visit, phone calls, manager requests

• Pervasive uncertainty• Mistrust, unfairness, office

politics• Unclear policies, direction• Career/job ambiguity• No feedback/appreciation• Lack of communication• Lack of control• http://www.businessknowledgesource.com/blog/top_10_causes

_of_workplace_stress_000810.html

Explain how stress can lead to burnout

• Stress leads to burnout if the stress is continuous - chronic and the stressors are not being resolved or eliminated in the working environment.

• Job satisfaction becomes excessively frustrating and you become mentally, physically, and emotionally drained

• Job burnout occurs when stress is continuously insurmountable and thus causes feelings of helplessness and despair which consequently leads to a loss of interest along with motivation

Programs that companies can use to identify and alleviate employee stress

• Take a break after particularly stressful events• Encourage employees to treat their bodies

right• http://www.itstime.com/oct2002.htm

• Listen to staff and provide a meaningful response

• Adjust the atmosphere – lighting, temperature, living plants, etc.

• Don’t sweat the small stuff• Set realistic standards• http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/04/reduce-office-stress.html

Wellness programs that prevent employee stress

• Companies with workplace wellness programs are improving employee health, decreasing absenteeism and saving money.– Encourage employees to start their own wellness

program by visiting a physician– Target specific health-related concerns– Hire a wellness coach– Reward employee participation– Acknowledge leaders in the newsletterhttp://lisa-nichols.suite101.com/workplace-wellness-programs-a27042

Activities

• Research a company of your choice and prepare a presentation on the company’s wellness program

• Invite a wellness coach in to speak to the class• Do yoga together• Watch The Office, laughter is good for the soul• In teams, put on a puppet show or create a

media presentation on a stressful situation and the outcome