Introduction
Workplace stress is an all-too-common challenge faced by employees across industries, and it can take a significant toll on both mental and physical well-being. Whether it’s the pressure to meet deadlines, the demands of a high-stakes project, or the challenge of balancing work with personal life, stress in the workplace is something almost everyone experiences at some point.
What is Stress?
Stress is defined as any type of change that may cause physical, emotional, or psychological strain. Everyone experiences and handles stress in different ways. For some, stress can impact their ability to perform a task. In the workforce, stress has a major impact on workers. There are 2 types of stress; positive stress and negative stress.
Positive Stress
Positive work stress can also be referred as “Motivating Stress.” This type of stress can help workers reach their goals and perform their jobs better. Some common sources of positive stress may include:
- Wanting to perform for coworkers and supervisors: Employees working together and respectfully, to do better at their job to better the company
- New tasks or procedures: New tasks can make a worker motivated to perform the tasks, prove they can take on new duties, and use it as a challenge. This can help workers step out of their comfort zone and break out of their daily work routine
Positive stress can be recognized by a few signs, including:
- Increased motivation
- Happier feelings towards work
- Or, eager to work or start new tasks
Negative Stress
Negative stress can be categorized as unnecessary stress. This occurs in the workplace when workers feel physical demand or receive high expectations. Common sources of negative work stress may include:
- Poor Communication: Disrespect, miscommunication, misconstruing information, or receiving information in a difficult-to-understand way
- Poor Preplanning: Improper planning can impact production schedules, creating hazards and increasing stress
- Poor Leadership: Poor leadership creates worker stress, especially when a leader lacks leadership
Negative stress can cause employees to feel unmotivated, make work less enjoyable, and escalate overall stress levels in the workplace. To combat this, it’s essential for employees to have strong leadership, open communication, and effective strategies in place to reduce stress and promote a healthier work environment.
The signs of negative stress can vary from person to person, but there are a few common indicators that often signal its presence. These signs may include:
- Mood swings
- Withdrawal from work
- Loss of motivation
- Emotional reactions
- Or, frequent time off
Tips to Reduce Workplace Stress
Workplace stress can be common, but there are tips you can use to reduce or manage stress, including:
- Track your stressors: Keep a record of your work stressors, find a pattern, and consider your reactions to them
- Develop healthy responses: Rather than fighting with your stressors, make healthy choices to manage or reduce them. Make time for hobbies and activities
- Establish a work-life balance: Make rules to not check emails or stress about work when you’re off the clock
- Take time to recharge: Avoid negative effects of stress and burnout. Take time to replenish and return to a pre-stress level
- And, talk to your supervisor: Have open conversations with your supervisor about workplace stress. Avoid laying out complaints and develop effective plans to manage your stressors
OSHA offers a dedicated webpage on workplace stress, providing valuable guidance and practical tips to help employers manage and reduce stress in the workplace.
Conclusion
Workplace stress is a significant issue that affects both employees and organizations alike. Understanding its causes and recognizing the signs are crucial steps in addressing the problem. By fostering a supportive work environment, promoting open communication, and implementing stress-reducing strategies, both employees and employers can work together to create a healthier, more productive workplace.