Stress Management in workplace

What is Stress ?

Stress is
the adverse reaction that people have to
excessive pressure or other types of
demand placed on them
HSE 2008
the feeling of being under too much
mental or emotional pressure
NHS 2010

An unpleasant emotional situation that

we experience when requirements (workrelated or not) cannot be counter-balanced
with our ability to resolve them.
Halkos and Bousinakis 2010

Causes of (work-related) stress

1. Factors intrinsic to the Job

Working Condition
Work hours and load
Relationship at work

2. The role in the organisation

Role ambiguity
Role conflict
Degree of responsibility
(Arnold
2005, p.395-410)

Other Causes of (work-related) stress

Home-to-Work Interface
Lack of participation in decision making
Lack of administrative support
Punishment centred philosophy or unfair discipline
Existence of bureaucracy
Increased workload
Inadequate resources to meet work demands

Wiecko 2007)

(Buker and

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON EMPLOYEES

HEALTH

High blood pressure

Migraine
Asthma
Rheumatoid arthritis
Indigestion
(Ferdinand 1998)

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON EMPLOYEES FAMILY LIFE

Inadequate attention to family/unhappy marriages

Poor sex life
Spouse and child abuse
Divorce
(Hsu 2011)

Why a dose of stress is good for you.

Stress stimulate ideas

Stress enhance learning and development
Stress triggers a fight or escape response
in the event of a threat.
Stress brings about
innovation/breakthrough in science,
technology and artificial intelligence
(Salami et al 2010)

How do you manage stress ?

1. Work Redesign:

Introducing flexible time

Increasing the amount and quality of support
received by individuals
Effective management of workloads and careful
allocation of resources

2. Stress Management Training

Organize classes on relaxation, time

management, assertiveness training or
exercise.
(Rees 1997)

How do you manage stress as a manager ? (continued)

3. Ergonomics and Environmental Design

Improving the use of equipment at work and the physical working

conditions can help to avoid stress.

4. Diet and lifestyles changes

Reduce the intake of coffee, tea, cola or chocolate drinks
Relaxation techniques : deep breathing, exercise and yoga.
(Rees 1997)
5. Laughter and fun times
Look for amusing colleagues, books, films, situations, etc
Organize happy hour, fun times
Identify your stability zones, that is, places, people and activities
that you can find calm
(Ferdinand B., 1988)

Stress management
approaches

Physiological
Aerobics training, relaxation imagery, relaxation
response
Psychological
Self statement modification, rational cognitive
restructuring, psychological coping statements
Behavioural
Time management, Assertiveness training,
Conflict resolution, problem solving

Environmental
Change in management practices, change in
organizational structure
(Hart, K., 2007)

QUESTIONS

References
BBC NEWS 2011. Stress: is it surprising bosses are stricken. [online].
Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15573121
[Accessed 7 November 2011].
BUCHANAN, D. & HUCZYNSKI, A. (2010). Organisational Behaviour. 7th
Edition. Pearson Education Ltd.
CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PERSONNEL AND DEVELOPMENT -CIPD
(2008). Building the business case for managing stress in the workplace
CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PERSONNEL AND DEVELOPMENT -CIPD
(2011a). Absence management . CIPD Annual Survey Report 2011
CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PERSONNEL AND DEVELOPMENT -CIPD
(2011b). Conflict management . CIPD Annual Survey Report 2011
FERDINAND, B. (1988). Stress Management. Industrial and Commercial
Training, 20(4)
HALKOS, G and BOUSINAKIS, D. (2010). The effect of Stress and
Satisfaction on Productivity. International Journal of Productivity and
Performance Management, 59(5).

References
HAMWI , G.A. et al.,(2011). Reducing Emotional Exhaustion and
Increasing Organizational Support, Journal of Business and
Industrial Marketing, 22(1).
HART K.E. (2007). Introducing Stress and Stress
Management to Managers. Journal of Managerial
Psychology, 16(5) pp 9-16.
HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE (2010). Video InterviewJanine Story [online]. Available from:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/video/janinestory.htm
[Accessed 20 October 2011].
HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE (2008). Working together to
reduce stress at work: a guide for employees [online].
Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg424.pdf
[Accessed 7 November 2011].
HO, J.T.S. et al., (1998). Stress, Health and Leisure
Satisfaction: the case of teachers. Journal of Managerial
Psychology, 13(5/6).

References
HSU Y.R. (2011). Work-family Conflict and Job Satisfaction In
Stressful working Environments: the moderating role of
perceived supervisor support and internal locus of control.
International Journal of Manpower, 32(2)
LARSON L.L. (2004). Internal Auditors and Job Stress. Managerial
Auditing Journal, 19(9).
MANAGEMENT SCIENCES FOR HEALTH (MSH) (2005). Managers
who lead : a handbook for improving health services.
Cambridge : Management Sciences for Health
NHS 2010. Stress.NHS Choices. UK: NHS. Available at :
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress/Pages/Introduction.aspx
[Accessed 20 October 2011].
REES W.D. (1997), Managerial Stress-Dealing with the Causes, Not
Symptoms. Industrial and Commercial Training. 29(2).
SALAMI ,A.O., OJOKUKU,R.M.,ILESANMI,O.A. 2010. Impact of job
stress on managers performance. European Journal of Scientific
Research 45(2) p 258