Workplace Stress
Although a term which is readily understood, in order to discuss any form of stress based relationship, it is essential to first and foremost understand stress by definition and then categorise the primary causes which bring it to existence.
Stress is described as 'The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them' (http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/). Due to the many definitions on stress it is important to develop a further understanding by retrieving a second definition by The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health further goes to define stress as ‘The harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, needs of the worker’ (http://www.counsellingatwork.org.uk/journal_pdf).
The primary causes that contribute to the levels of stress can be classified under two key headings as discussed by Bratton and Gold (2003), work-related factors and individual factors. Both of the factors are inter-related which result in high pressure levels which hence lead to stress. For these reasons it is essential to identify the components that are players in the fluctuation of an individuals stress levels.
Some of the work-related factors which contribute to higher levels of stress are:
? Poor job role definition
? Frustration
? Flexibility
? Disputes or conflicts
? Violence and harassment
? Work overload
? Unrealistic time constraints
? Unrealistic employer expectations
Some of the individual factors which contribute to higher levels of stress ...