Stress and Workplace
Issues
A question we're often asked is
whether stress is more common now than in the
past. Stress may be more common now because we
are living through times of unprecedented change
and uncertainty.
Stress is consequence of the way
social, technological and economic changes
affect the way we live and work. Where people
have plenty of responsibility but little
control, they are likely to feel stressed. This
is often the case in the workplace where stress
is considered to be the new occupational hazard.
The cost of stress
Stress at work can lead
to decreased productivity with increased sick
leave and turnover of staff. Individuals tend to
make poorer decisions and be less creative in
their problem solving. Teamwork suffers as a
consequence of staff becoming less co-operative
and more competitive with more concern for
getting their own results.
Stress can also steal the
enjoyment from work with people dreading the day
instead of looking forward to the day ahead.
Proneness to accidents and injuries increases as
workers become distracted and take shortcuts.
Heart disease and mental illness such as
depression is becoming increasingly common and
is linked to stress. (In the US the workers'
compensation payout for workplace stress-related
mental illness is more than $200 million a
year.)
The human cost of stress extends
to the community in terms of health care costs,
drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence.
Sense of humor to the
rescue A sense of humor, which is the
ability to appreciate humor, helps people to
separate who they are from the job they do or
the problem they're having. A sense of humor
helps people to keep things in perspective and
not take themselves too seriously.
These are hallmarks of mental
health. The good news is that people can learn
to strengthen their sense of humor and reap the
benefits, especially laughter. Laughter is one
of the quickest ways of getting into a good
mood. Being in a good mood offers more than just
the physical benefits, it can make everything we
do easier and more effective.
Teaming with laughter
Teamwork also benefits from laughter. We
consider the essence of teamwork to be
friendship and fun the glue of friendship.
Laughter is what people do when they're having
fun. The idea "if people are laughing at work
they can't be working" is not supported the
studies that show the benefits of fun at work.
These include staff being less stressed, happier
and more productive. Fun and laughter can also
improve communication, creativity, and
co-operation.
Fun at work It's
important to understand what the staff consider
to be the ingredients of a fun place to work. In
our experience the winning ideas include ways to
share the praise and celebrate success,
permission to laugh, managers not taking
themselves too seriously, lots of learning
opportunities, fun days (for example: Mad
Monday, Cheeky Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday,
Thrilling Thursday and Freaky Friday) and
spontaneous outbreaks of silliness.
Ideas unlimited
In addition to the enormous mental and physical
health benefits of laughter, it also allows
people to experiment with the new. This is vital
to the success of any business or organization
and creativity thrives when people feel relaxed
and happy. Ideas are needed in all areas and not
least of all for the issue discussed here: How
to make the workplace less stressful and more
rewarding.
So, now that you read this,
spread it to others at work, even managers,
Directors etc, and let them know you want a
stress free work place. Or, even better, take
this, re-write a bit, expand on it, submit it as
a proposal to increase staff production through
use of stress reduction and making work fun.
Maybe you will get a raise or promotion....all
be cause you injected a smile and humor into the
work day....no how COOL is that
