Each work stress website provides valuable insight into what causes stress on the job, and how you can alleviate it. Many useful sites provided by both government and private organizations include stress management tips and healthy coping mechanisms for those feeling under great stress at work.
Work Stress
On-the-job stress affects nearly everyone at some point in their careers. The office worker faced with mounds of paperwork and a micro-managing boss experiences stress. The paramedic called to treat burn victims at a five-alarm fire experiences stress. The teacher dealing with an angry parent faces stress. Each person has different stressors, yet all experience similar symptoms of racing heart, dry mouth, increased vigilance and other symptoms.
Causes of Work Stress
Stress affects everyone differently, and what creates stress in one individual may actually relieve it in another. The causes of workplace stress affect everyone different.
Frequently cited causes of workplace stress include:
- Long hours
- Low pay
- Too much work with too little support
- Too little work or work not engaging one's intelligence
- Micromanagement or absent management
- Uncertainty in the workplace, such as rumors of layoffs
- Physical stress, including:
- Rotating schedules
- Dangerous jobs, such as fore or police, construction, oil rig workers, and others
- Working with dangerous chemicals or substances
Workplace Stress Relief Makes Sense
Business have a vested interest in reducing work stress. Stress causes illness. The effects of stress on the body include headaches, muscle fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and insomnia.While none of these conditions is life threatening, each contributes to illness and absenteeism as employees call in sick. Worker absenteeism decreases productivity and profits. By investing time to teach and support stress management techniques, business gain through increased productivity, lower absenteeism, and greater work satisfaction.
Work Stress Website
Many turn to the Internet to find a work stress website that will answer their questions and provide useful information. Below is a selection of websites dealing with work stress. Each work stress website includes different information, so you may wish to view a variety of them to see which is the most helpful.
- Help Guide provides a work stress management overview online. Describing itself as a "trusted non-profit resources," Help Guide includes useful resources for employers, managers and businesses dealing with work stress issues.
- In the United States, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) offers a huge website devoted to stress research. Part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the website includes research, information, links to videos and books and much more.
- Yet another excellent government-sponsored work stress website comes from the United Kingdom. The Health and Safety Stress site includes resources for managers and individuals, coping tools, an online interactive forum, and much more. The site includes examples of good practices too in managing stress and pressure at work. You can even sign up for a free newsletter.
Other Ways to Reduce Workplace Stress
If you cannot immediately address the causes of your office stress, such as a looming deadline or a Dilbert-esque boss, try some health coping mechanisms for support until the stress passes. Guided relaxation has helped many employees relax under pressure. nature screensavers draw the attention away from sterile office cubicles and into the outdoors, even if it's merely the virtual outdoors, a proven stress reliever. Other tactics include exercise, such as yoga, tai chi, or even regular walking to reduce stress.
