Is stress really a legitimate workplace hazard? Yes, stress is
absolutely a workplace hazard. Though certain type of stress at workplace is
normal to deal with, high amount stress can affect with your productivity and
performance as well as impacting your emotional and physical health.
Furthermore, a high amount workload, too many demands at once and lack of support
from coworkers, can contribute to a feeling of panic and frustration that there
is not enough time to complete the given task or any work. According to the
authors of “Performance Under Pressure: Managing Stress in the
Workplace,” if these conditions routinely result in overtime or having to
take work home, the stress of being unable to manage time efficiently can fuel
employees’ resentment toward the company as well as negatively influence their
commitment and loyalty. Anytime you have men or women who are working with
heavy machines where there is the chance that they can get hurt, you want these
people to be as focused on their jobs as possible. A stressed out individual
who is day dreaming or thinking of other worries is far more likely to hurt
himself or hurt someone else than an employee who is stress free. Moving on, stress
affects your capability to remember things and physical tasks that require
concentration. You are way more distracted and prone to make harmful or even disastrous
mistakes on the job when you are mentally exhausted from all of the anxieties,
and tension brought on by a stressful lifestyle. Reducing stress levels for
your workers’ health is not only important for their wellbeing, it also leads
to improved organizational performance. So, in addition to your legal
compliance obligations, there are good reasons to carefully review potential
stressors in your business and take steps to remove them. One key factor that
can improve your organization overall when dealing with work-related stress
would be having clear communication and consultation regarding risk management
of stress. Other than that, managers have to ensure that they are committed to
dealing with work-related stress as well as ensuring all workers participate in
stress management activities. Example of stress management activities includes
providing feedback, undertaking planning, and risk assessment, and implementing
control options. In conclusion, teaching workers to manage stress in a helpful
way will not only improve their productivity but also create a safer
environment, one where everyone is focused on work and not on other things.
