STRESS AT WORKPLACE

Managing Workplace Stress

Managing Workplace Stress

Introduction

In the contemporary business environment, organisations have to work harder and more strategically in order to compete effectively. This increased demand on the organisation consequently places elevated work demands on the employees. This often results in excessive stress and pressure experienced by the employees at the work place. Work related stress has turned out to be an area of increasing concern for the employees and the employers owing to the consequences that it entails to the individual and the organisations.

The purpose of this paper is to cascade light on issue of tress and workplace and propose relevant recommendations for the organisations. The paper initiates with a description of the concept of stress at workplace also known as work related stress. It then highlights the key factors that are identified as the main causes of the workplace stress. The paper then cascade light on the important effects and consequences of the stress at workplace for both the individual employees and the organisation. It then entails a descriptive discussion as to the measures or techniques that the organisations can adopt to manage the stress at the workplace. In the end, the paper discusses the role that human resource management function of an organisation can play in managing stress at the workplace. The writer utilises different literature and secondary resources to back the recommendations provided and the discussion of the paper.

Workplace Stress

Stress is one of those problems of human life that cannot be ignored. The meaning and implications of the phenomenon of stress is elusive. However, in general stress is being regarded as an experience or a situation that a person come across due to excessive pressure or demands which he or she is not able to cope owing to the abilities and skills he or she possess. Stress may be related to diversified dimensions and have severe implications (Blaug et.al, 2007).

In accordance with the general meaning of stress, the workplace stress can be described as the situation which is experienced by the employees when they are faced with excessive work related pressure and demands (Leka et.al, 2003). This excessive wok related pressure and demands are unmatched with the skills and knowledge of the employees. Work related stress may take place in a number of situations (HSE, 2008). The severity of this work stress is affected by the perception and feelings of the employees with respect to the support and facilitation provided to them from their employers (Blaug et.al, 2007).

A notable aspect to be concerned with respect to the notion of workplace stress is the misunderstanding that is present between the notion of stress and pressure. Owing to nature of the work and business in the modern business environment, challenge and pressure are inescapable and inevitable occurrences in the workplace (Leka et.al, 2003). Any workplace pressure or challenge which is good enough and tolerable by the employees has constructed results on the performance of the employees and the organisations on the ...