Is workplace Stress Inevitable?
Stress and its repercussions came to the medical forefront during the eighties, and has continued to be of great concern. We live in times when we are expected to perform multiple roles, often with seemingly superhuman abilities!
At one end of the employment ladder, the prevalence of zero hours contracts and people regularly committing to multiple jobs just to stay afloat is a big ask, let alone the stressful nature of the jobs themselves. But stress isn't just experienced by the workers. Middle managers often report the feeling of being pulled in several directions, and having to be accountable for results, whilst tackling all the day-to-day operational difficulties. There's also the phenomenon of "Executive Burnout" whereby those in higher positions shoulder the weight of responsibility, and often feel compelled to drive themselves way too hard to achieve success...
Rushing from one task or job to another, living life at an ever-exhausting pace... is not without cost: stress has become a major cause of absence from work and we increasingly hear news of large compensation settlements for cases relating to work-related stress. The urgency felt by companies and individuals to recognise and tackle the symptoms of stress, as well as to minimise the sources of stress in the workplace, is now greater than ever.
What are the immediate signs of stress?
Any of the "fight-or-flight" responses are the direct signs of a stressful situation, including:
- Rapid pulse
- Increased perspiration
- Pounding heart
- Tightened stomach
- Tense muscles in arms and legs
- Shortness of breath
- Gritting of teeth
- Clenching of the jaw
- Inability to sit still
- Racing thoughts
- Inability to concentrate
- Emotional tension ("keyed up")
Why is stress bad for us?
Evidence suggests that sustained stress is as bad for the heart as smoking, and can cause anything from mouth ulcers and infertility, to cancer. Stress is thought to induce physical illness through two main pathways: Firstly, it causes certain hormonal changes that raise blood pressure and heart rate, accelerating damage to the delicate linings of blood vessels that leads to heart attack and stroke. Secondly, it weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of a number of serious conditions and diseases.
Can stress be good for us?
It's not all bad news. Some stress is good for us - indeed, it's essential for good health. Our minds and bodies need some form of challenge and are very effective at rising to the occasion - short-term stress caused by issues that can be dealt with and resolved can be healthy. Not only does it supply motivation, it can enhance and hone bodily responses, including those of the immune system.
What are the symptoms of on-going stress?
There is a wide range of physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms indicating unhealthy or unacceptable levels of chronic stress. Even if you only exhibit one or two, they could be a warning sign to take action:
Physical signs include:
Palpitations; pain/tightness in the chest; indigestion; breathlessness; nausea; muscle twitches; tiredness/chronic fatigue; vague aches and pains; skin irritation/rashes/susceptibility to allergies; clenched fists/jaw; fainting; frequent colds/'flu/infections; constipation/diarrhoea; rapid weight loss/gain; alteration of menstrual cycle; reduced perceptual abilities/motor co-ordination; accelerated aging process
Emotional signs include:
Mood swings; increased worrying; irritability; feeling tense/drained; no enthusiasm; feeling anxious/nervous/apprehensive; feelings of helplessness; loss of confidence; lack of self-esteem; lack of concentration; job dissatisfaction; suicidal thoughts/actions.
Behavioural signs include:
Accident prone; poor performance at work; increased smoking; increased dependence on drugs/alcohol; overeating/loss of appetite; sleep disturbances; loss of interest in sex; poor time-management; impaired speech; withdrawal from supportive relationships; too busy to relax; taking work home; not looking after yourself; impaired judgement; reduced creativity; pessimism; poor/impaired decision-making ability.
NB: Although all the above can be caused by stress, it is always advisable to consult your doctor in the first instance: to confirm that they are not symptoms of a more serious illness, and to check whether they require medical attention.
At what level does stress become hazardous?
There is no reliable way to predict the impact of stress. Identical stressors produce different reactions in different people - one person's stress is another's motivation. However, harmful stressors do share a number of characteristics: they tend to be pronounced, long-term and beyond the individual's immediate control.
The latter is the most important characteristic, because it makes resolution of a stressful problem almost impossible. Which explains why stress is less of a problem in high-flying executives than in men and women on the factory floor - the CEO may work long hours and have huge responsibility, but he or she is often better resourced/authorised to deal with the root cause - as long as they are able to recongnise it, of course!
What are the causes of stress at work?
There are a number of situations and triggers, which are commonly sited as the cause of stress at work:
- Intrinsic to the job - Poor physical working conditions; work under/over load; time pressures; unpredictable workload; physical danger; under/over supervision; lack of variety/boredom; job interferes with personal life
- Career development - Under/over promotion; lack of job security; thwarted ambition; inadequate feedback re: performance; incentives unrelated to performance; promotion opportunities unclear
- Relationships - Poor relationships with boss/colleagues; difficulties with delegation/teamwork; regular conflicts; bullying
- Role in the organisation - Ambiguous role; conflicting role boundaries; responsibility for others; mismatch with personal interests / skills
- Organisational culture/structure - Organisational goals ambiguous/conflicting; little participation in decision making; office politics; blame culture; prohibitive / dictatorial hierarchy; motivation by punishment culture
What are the financial costs of stress?
New data and economic modelling from AXA UK and Centre for Business and Economic Research (Cebr) reveals people reaching the point of struggling with burnout and work-related stress is a significant issue for the UK economy, with an estimated £28bn lost last year due to poor mental health at work. That bill could soon be swollen by substantial legal costs - trade union Unison alone settled just under 2,000 claims in 2021-2022 worth £29m for members seeking compensation from their employers for work related SRI.
Management Consultants look for a number of common tell-tale signs of stress in the organisations within which they work, including:
- Unusually high levels of sickness and absenteeism
- Unusual or persistent low morale
- Unusually high levels of bullying and disputes
- High accident and compensation rates
- High grievance rates
- Missed targets and deadlines
- Lower and uneven productivity/profitability
- Sudden increase, or high levels of staff turnover
Is relaxation really the best way to deal with stress?
Individuals most prone to stress are also those least likely to be in a position to resolve their problems by making significant external changes. This is when forms of relaxation, mindfulness and meditation are particularly helpful, as they help to bolster personal resilience and minimise the impact of stressors. Research has proven that the benefits of these forms of relaxation can be measured using physical parameters such as blood pressure, pulse rate and the stress hormone Cortisol. However, if resolution never occurs and the stress continues indefinitely, the more likely it is to do damage, relaxation or no relaxation.
What are the other options?
You might have thought about: "doing a Reggie Perrin", going for "The Goode Life" "jumping ship", "quitting the rat race" or "downgrading" - all effective ways of alleviating the pressure in the short-term. But it tends to be an option only for the privileged few with the resources to do so. As tempting it may feel, this option can cause even worse problems in the long-run... especially if your neighbours are likely to object to you keeping chickens in your back garden!
It is widely accepted that tackling and resolving the source of the problem is the best stress-buster of all. We all know how it feels to deal with a niggling problem - how many times have you felt the weight lift off your shoulders when you finally make the telephone call you have been avoiding? The resolution approach really is the only way to remove root cause of the stress, and therefore to alleviate the symptoms. As long as the problem has not been left for too long, and as long as the resulting symptoms have not caused irreversible damage, there is a good chance that resolution will eliminate stress and its symptoms for good.
So, the next time you are feeling overwhelmed, maybe consider seeking help through a coach - or a trainer to help identify and tackle the root causes of stress within your own workplace...
Author: Tina Halperin, Founder H2 Training, Coaching & Consultancy