Workplace Stress

Nurses in Scotland feeling intense stress

News - Workplace Stress

Monday, 26 September 2011 16:00

According to an article on News-Medical.net, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Scotland reported that nurses working for the country's National Health Services are feeling far less secure in their positions and are experiencing high levels of workplace stress, when compared to past statistics.

The news source reported that two years ago, 82 percent of nurses said they felt secure in their position but now just 30 percent report feelings of job security. Additionally, about three quarters said they experience intense stress on the job, and 68 percent reported being more worried about money than the previous year.

“Given the continuing cuts to the nursing workforce, prolonged pay freeze and planned pension increases, it is no surprise that the morale of nurses and healthcare support workers in our NHS is plummeting," said Theresa Fyffe, the director of RCN Scotland, quoted by the news source.

The situation in the U.S. may not be much better, as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that stress among nurses has been an issue since the 1960s. The institution reported that there are four main job aspects that contribute to workplace stress among nurses: patient care, making difficult decisions, responsibilities and changes in job role and technology.  

Proactive measures may be best way to tackle workplace stress

News - Workplace Stress

Monday, 26 September 2011 16:00

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In an article on Forbes.com, contributing writer and career expert Lisa Quast stated that workplace stress is more prevalent now than ever, and poses a significant threat to productivity and public health.

She said that employers should recognize aspects of an office that may be contributing to tension in the workplace and be proactive in correcting them.

Primary ways to get to the root of stress include ensuring that workloads are manageable, deadlines are fair and that the flow of work and duties makes sense, Quast said.

Additionally, management training should be focused on staving off anxiety among staff members.

"This includes training on causes and consequences of stress, how to recognize warning signs of excessive stress, what managers can do to help alleviate job related stress, and how leadership style can affect employee levels of stress," Quast wrote.

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, an estimated 40 percent of workers report that their jobs are very stressful, and about one quarter named their career as the biggest source of stress in their lives.

This suggests that many workplaces may be in need of employee wellness programs, which have been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety in a healthy, proactive way.  

Are young workers more stressed than older counterparts?

News - Workplace Stress

Monday, 26 September 2011 16:00

Some employers may assume that since an employee is young, they are impervious to workplace stress and less prone to take sick days. However, a Daily Mail article suggests otherwise.

The news source reported on a study conducted by a nutritional supplement company which revealed that 72 percent of employees 30 and younger reported taking a sick day in the previous year, compared to 46 percent of workers older than 55.

Additionally, 86 percent of young staff members said they feel stress at work and 28 percent said they would take a day off because of it, while just 66 percent of older employees reported workplace anxiety and 15 percent said it caused them to take time off.

Previously, an article in The Guardian, another UK news source, reported that younger workers are more likely to develop mental disorders like depression as a result of workplace stress.

These findings suggest that organizations with young staff members should not overlook the benefits that can be gained from employee wellness programs that provide tools and resources for stress management.  

Rituals and routines may help reduce stress

News - Workplace Stress

Wednesday, 21 September 2011 16:00

Preparedness is known to be a key prevention effort for stress, but researchers at Tel Aviv University recently established a psychological basis for why carrying out tasks routinely helps to reduce feelings of anxiety.

In order to reach their conclusions, the team of scientists examined the habits of basketball players, who often have ritualistic ways of playing the sport. For example, dribbling the ball a precise number of times before shooting.

"The routine they perform in the moments before shooting the ball is a method to focus their full concentration and control their actions," said lead researcher David Eilam.

Authors of the study said that routine behavior helps individuals reduce their stress levels by helping make the situation seem more controllable and predictable. Additionally - and this is especially true in the case of athletes - having the belief that a certain action will lead to success may help people actually perform better.

Results of this study suggest that workers should be encouraged to plan their daily tasks and given the freedom to carry them out how they wish. Also, employee wellness programs can help reduce workplace stress while strengthening employee performance.