Career and Job Stress

If You Have Stress about your career, Here's What to Do

What is Job Stress?

Job stress is something we all face as workers -- and we all handle it differently. There is no getting around it. But, not all stress is bad, and learning how to deal with and manage stress is critical to our maximizing our job performance, staying safe on the job, and maintaining our physical and mental health. For workers like Melissa, infrequent doses of job stress pose little threat and may be effective in increasing motivation and productivity, but too much -- and too prolonged -- can lead to a downward spiral -- both professionally and personally. Some jobs, by definition, tend to be higher stress -- such as ones that are in dangerous settings (fire, police), that deal with demanding customers (service providers), that have demanding time pressures (healthcare), and that have repetitive detailed work (manufacturing) -- but stress is not limited to any one particular job or industry.

Signs of being Stressed out at Work include:

• Apathy Negativism/cynicism Low morale Boredom Anxiety Frustration Fatigue Depression Alienation Anger/irritability Physical problems (headaches, stomach problems)
• Absenteeism

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, states that job stress, now more than ever, poses a threat to the health of workers � and the health of organizations. NIOSH defines job stress as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. Stress also occurs when the situation has high demands and the worker has little or no control over it. Job stress can lead to poor health and injury.

Causes of Job Stress

• Overwork: working late, taking work home, not taking vacation
• Impending layoffs
• Being in the wrong career
• Conflict with boss or co-workers
  

Job Stress Statistics
Numerous studies examining job stress sound an alarming bell about the mental and physical health of American workers:

• A Northwestern National Life study found that 40 percent of workers report their job is �very or extremely stressful.� And that one-fourth of employees view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives. A Families and Work Institute study found 26 percent of workers report they are �often or very often burned out or stressed by their work.� A Yale University study found 29 percent of workers feel �quite a bit or extremely stressed at work.� A Princeton Survey Research Associates study reports that three-fourths of employees believe the worker has more on-the-job stress than a generation ago. A Gallup Poll found that 80 percent of workers feel stress on the job, and nearly half reported that they needed help in learning how to manage it.
• According to an article in Shape Magazine, women are 60 percent more likely to suffer from job stress than men.

Early Warning Signs^*

• Job dissatisfaction
• Sleep disturbances
• Short temper
• Upset stomach
• Headache
• Disturbed relationships with family and friends
• Low morale
• Teeth grinding
• Increased use of drugs or alcohol

Long-Term Problems

• Cardiovascular disease
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Psychological disorders

• If overwork is your problem, take a vacation, leave work on time as often as possible, and avoid taking work home.
• If you're worried about layoffs, all you can do is make sure you're prepared should that happen.
• If you find that you made the wrong career choice, or your career is no longer fulfilling, it may be time for a change. Make your choices carefully.
• If you are having conflicts with your boss or co-workers, try to work them out. Although it may be difficult to resolve personality differences, you can try to figure out a way to get along better.
• If your stress is having a profound effect on your life, don't be afraid to get professional help.