The Effects of Occupational Stress
To measure something as subjective as stress is difficult to do. Stress is an issue that we must all deal with throughout our lives. Some people think of it as an illness, and others think that it only affects CEOs or executives of large companies ? or that only weak people suffer from it. People often confuse stress with pressure, but the two have very different identities. Stress is what is caused by excess pressure and it makes no difference if the "stressor" is real or perceived. Stress can also be long term or short term depending on the person and their unique situation. "Workplace stress costs U.S. employers an estimated $200 billion dollars a year in increased absenteeism, lower productivity, staff turnover, workers' compensation, medical insurance claims, and other stress related expenses" (Maxon, 1999). It has been reported as overtaking the common cold as the biggest cause of absenteeism from the workplace. Therefore, it is safe to say that occupational stress is a serious issue that must be dealt with on national, if not global level.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines stress as the "adverse reaction that people have to excessive pressures or other types of demands placed upon them; it arises when they feel they cannot cope" with the stressor in their current situation (Atkinson, 2000). A stressor is defined as any agent that causes stress to an organism. Stress occurs when there is a mismatch between what an individual wants and/or is capable of doing and what their environment offers and demands of them. Two employees doing the same job are two completely different people, with different stressors from ...