CRITICAL MANAGEMENT IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT

(CORP 5068)

Presented by:
Jabir Mohamed Ali

(P14187564)

Jubin John Jacob (P14146242)

Prasoon M.K

(P14187533)

Ramandeep Kaur (P1405438x)

WELLNESS
&
STRESS

Table of Contents
Introduction.
What is Stress ?
Types of Stress.
Main causes of Stress.
Pros & Cons of Stress.
Impact on the Organization and Individual.
Stress Management techniques.
Personal Wellness.
Types of Wellness Programs.
Wellness programs adopted by different Organizations.
Conclusion.

Introduction
Stress is an individuals physiological and emotional response to external stimuli that
places physical or psychological demands on the individual and creates uncertainty
and lack of personal control when important outcomes are at stake. (Daft, Kendrick
and Vershinina, 2010)
Organizational stress can be defined as an emotional, cognitive, behavioural and
physiological response to the aggressive and harmful aspects of work, work
environment and organizational climate. (Mirela and Mdlina-Adriana, n.d.)
Stress is often termed as a twentieth century syndrome, born out of mans race
towards modern progress and its ensuring complexities. (Benjamin Franklin)

What is Stress ?
Stress:
It is the unconscious preparation that a person experiences when faced with an un
familiar situation.
A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding
circumstances.
It occurs when an external source upsets an individuals natural and steady-state
balance.

Stressor:
The person or event that triggers a stress response.
The source may be positive or negative.

Types of Stress
Eustress:

It is indicated by hope and active engagement.

Helps people to prepare themselves for future situations.
It is the positive stress.
Short- termed.

Distress:
The adverse consequences that may arise due to stressful events.
It is a negative stress.
May be short or long- termed.

Types of Stress
How eustress and distress tend to affect the motivation and behavioural efficiency of an individual:

(Stress.org)

Types of Stress
Acute:
It is the most common; observed when change transforms the normal functioning of an individual.
It is short- termed physical condition and passes quickly; easily manageable.
Symptoms: emotional distress, muscular tension, elevated blood pressure levels.

Episodic acute:
Those who suffer from acute stress frequently; caused due to extensive worrying.
Symptoms: persistent muscular tension; extreme cases being aggressive, impatient and resistant
to change.

Chronic:
Grinding stress which wears a person away;
It is long-termed destroying both, ones mental and physical state.
Symptoms: since the resources tend to deplete via continuous attrition, they are difficult to point
out and may require extended medical treatment and stress management.

(Apa.org, n.d.)

Main causes of Stress

Individual:
Anxiety; tolerance for ambiguity.
Stress at home; personal problems e.g. family problems.

Organizational:
Occupational stress- stemming from unexpected responsibilities that dont align with
an individuals knowledge or skill set, thereby inhibiting their ability to cope.
Job insecurity and workplace culture; may arise due to little control over work process
High performance demand and expectation from junior employees.
Work overload; time pressure; poor physical working conditions.

Advantages of Stress
Enables concentration thus leading to increases performance.
Energizes one into motion for instance pushing employers to perform more frequent risk
assessments.
Motivates the staff to express themselves.
Acts as a motivation to complete assigned task or reach target goals.
Challenges employees which helps in personal and skill development.
Better workflow in the future is ensured.
Capable of adapting to changes and working under pressure.

Advantages of Stress
Economic benefits

Lower risks of litigation because they comply with legal duties.

Improved return on investment in training and development.
Improved customer care and relationships with clients and suppliers.
Reduced costs of sick pay, sickness cover, overtime and recruitment.

Management benefits

Less room for error.

Improved work quality.
Improved organizational image and reputation.
Better staff understanding and tolerance of others experiencing problem.

Disadvantages of Stress
Low employees morale and motivation.
Lack of commitment; Reduced effectiveness.
Lack of job security; High employee turnover.
High rate of absenteeism.
It is the single biggest causes of sickness in the UK. Nearly 105 million days are lost to
stress every year, costing billions of pounds.
More management time being spent on resolving the issues arising from stress.

Impact on the Organisation and

Individual
Stress is not an illness, but a state. However if stress level becomes too high and is too
long-lived, the individual may develop some kind of mental and or physical illness.
It has legal and financial implications for organisations causing distress to individuals.
Employees tend to make poor decisions and causal errors.
Workplace relations and customer service may deteriorate.
Little or no participation in decision making processes.
Restrictions on behaviour; office politics; organizational conflicts.

(Clarke, Cooper 2003)

Stress Management Techniques

Stress management can be complicated and confusing.
Three approaches that may be considered:
Eliminate the stress-producing source.
Adjust as per the stress or change the situation altogether.
Strengthen an individuals resilience to stress.
These techniques help a person to overcome or cope with the stress they face.
Stress related disease prevention and health promotion of one and all, is a necessity in all
organizations.
In order to manage stress in the workplace, employers can provide stress managing
programs such as therapy, communication programs and a more flexible work schedule.

Scandinavian Case Study

Adopted to employees mental and physical ability.
Employees have the chance to create their own workplace.
The job and working hours are assigned in a way that the staff is not exposed to physical
or mental strains.
Closely controlled or restricted work is avoided.
Employees have an opportunity to develop personally and professionally.

(Jstor.org, 1980)

Personal Wellness

The dangers of stress loom over

people on a daily basis where the
symptoms could strike without
warning.
Managing stress is a powerful tool to
overcome health risks and to greatly
improve an individuals and indirectly
the organisations overall well-being.

Types of Wellness Programmes

Recently, programs are being designed to
assist employees to choose healthier
behaviours like being more physically
active or quitting smoking.
It constitutes- campaigns to raise
awareness, educational sessions to
increase knowledge, opportunities to learn
new skills, and changes to policies.
All these happen to different forms of
wellness programs that are being carried
out in order to make it easier for employees
to make healthy choices.

Types of Wellness Programmes

Physical Fitness classes, stretch breaks, promoting use of stairs, allotting time for physical
activities.
Spiritual Community activities, Meditation workshops, Random acts of kindness campaign.
Intellectual Training of personal development, Mental fitness activates, book or article discussion
sessions.
Social Team building activates, Mentor programmes, Work and families day.
Emotional Stress management program, employee assistance program, support groups.
Occupational - Reward and recognition program, career development seminar, Daily or weekly
wellness tips.

Wellness programs adopted by famous organizations

Google Energy Pods, Massages, Free Snacks, Free technology
products to try.
Microsoft Commuter shuttle, Flexible work hours, Paid leaves
etc.
Twitter Restaurant, No track of PTO (paid time off) or vacations
days.
UN International Labor Organization- developed an app for the
staff to input their stresses at work. It would in turn recommend
how to alleviate stress by suggesting various techniques.
Ferrari - Formula Uomo.
Tata Counseling to manage stress and sleep, Free Health check
up.
Accenture Healthiest employer in the US e.g. Homoeopathy.
Next Jump Helping out with the Laundry and other basic
facilities.

Conclusion
Stress is our natural way of reacting to the challenging situations that we encounter.
Our research has lead us to believe that stress, in small doses is beneficial for one and all
as it has multiple advantages associated.
In recent years though, organizations have seen cases of increased stress amongst its
employees, which is why stress and wellness programs are the need of the hour.
Every person has a different way of dealing and coping with stress. Firms must recognize
this and tailor programs as per the need of varying individuals.
We hope that companies would be able to create a stress-free work environment for the
betterment of the individual and organization further contributing to the society as a
whole.

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