The Main Aspects of Workplace Stress - Research Paper Example

Running Header: Organizational Behavior Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Name & Code: Date of Submission: Abstract The aim of the research is to identify the main aspects of workplace stress. Such include defining workplace stress, causes, symptoms, effects and ways of dealing with it. The interview and questionnaire methods were used to get relevant information. Workplace stress was defined as a harmful emotional and physical response that takes place when there is mismatch between the job demands and workers’ needs, resources, and capabilities. Stress is caused by several factors like high demand for performance, pressure from investors/customers, and economic factors among others. Symptoms of the workplace stress include anxiety and depression. However, stress can be reduced by streamlining workload with worker’s capability and resources among other aspects. The results obtained have clearly shown that they are effects and symptoms of the stress as well as ways of reducing its effects. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 Aims of the study 3 Background 4 Method 5 Respondents/Participants 5 Materials/Questionnaire 5 Procedure 6 Results 7 Discussion 7 Aims of the study The report analyzes various aspects of work place stress that employees experience. Work-related stress is becoming an epidemic in various working places. Almost two-thirds of employees in Australia say they are under extreme stress at their workplaces. The aim of this report is to identify work-related stress and their occurrences. This is through interviewing various affected employees and identification of various aspects behind the stress. The interview involves manager who will provide information on workplace stress. He assists in identifying what is a workplace stress, its effects on the performance of the organization, causes, and ways of preventing it. Stress in most instances hinder out the job performance leading to burnout, which is detrimental to the performance and productivity of the organization. Background Hogg & Vaughan, (2005) found that workplace stress remains a great problem among workers despite their knowledge on ways to reduce its effects. Defining the workplace stress is not easy due to varying reported sources and effects across the research. In most instances, it is confused with other psychological problems. Workplace stress in most instances is mistaken for occupational stress. They have been no clear understanding of who is supposed to look after the issues stresses among the workers, either the respective manager or a psychologist within an organization. However, it is the role of every concerned person or department to play his part. IT departments and companies have a high probability of stress occurrence among its workers due to the working environment. This is because there is little human interaction and the tasks undertaken are usually very complex. According to previous research, managers are at a high risk of being stressed up. This is because of high number of responsibilities they are expected to undertake especially in dealing with people. Increasing technologies, tough financial targets, and more demanding customers are related to increasing workplace stress. However, these stresses also affect other workers due to increasing work demands. There have been various factors associated with rise of workplace stress according to research. They include performance pressure and financial factors among others. Anxiety and discomfort have been previously identified as the signs of workplace stress (McShane and Travaglione, 2005). Defining clearly the roles of workers and establishing work schedules compatible with demands of the job were identified as the ways to reduce and prevent job stress. The key aim of the interview was to identify the causes, signs, effects, and ways of reducing workplace stress. What is workplace stress? Are there causes, signs, effects, and methods of reducing workplace stress? Method Respondents/Participants The main respondent is this interview process was Human Resource Manager in an IT firm. He was 46 years old male with 16 years working experience. He had worked for 6 years as a Human Resource Manager in the company. He was chosen to take part in this interview because as he had worked for a long time monitoring how people work and interact. He is responsible of staff training and welfare, recruitment, attendance, and employees exit. He has a lot of knowledge concerning workplace stress because of interacting with workers for a long time. He has a lot of experience on what entails the workplace stress, its impacts on the organization, and ways to reduce it. Materials/Questionnaire The overall strategy adopted involved a set of questions in an interview transcript that were to be asked the interviewee in a face-to-face conversation. Thematic analysis was the approach used; it is an investigative method or a form of grounded theory. It works on the basis that crucial data details is entirely based on the data collected and does not rely on previous studies and research. The approach involved the use of direct questions to get responses or intended results from HRM. There was also interview recording using tapes in order to clarify the information collected through the interview transcript. The questions were to be asked by the interviewer as he read from the interview transcript. The answers were written on the interview transcript by the interviewer as he got them from the correspondent. The questions asked included the definition of workplace stress in relation to his organization; this was meant to define and expose the real aspect or ideas revolving around workplace stress. It was meant to make it clear what is workplace stress. The second question was to classify the key factors behind the occurrence of workplace stress or causes of stress. This was meant to identify the main reasons behind the occurrence of workplace stress. The third question asked the effects of workplace stress; this was to give and analyze the signs of workplace stress and how it is expressed among the employees. The fourth question was to know the ways of reducing workplace stress. These are factors and actions used in order to reduce the stress among the employees (Otto & Schmidt, 2007). Procedure The interviewer and respondent were involved in an interview process in the office of Human Resource Manager within the IT Company. The interviewee was introduced to the session and informed clearly on the main issues as the recording continued concurrently. The introduction section was meant to make the correspondent aware of what the entire process was meant for and why it was, being carried out. The set questions were asked as the interviewer sought for clarification on every question while asking for examples. After the questions, the interviewer clarified the data or information collected to ensure it was clear. The interviewer confirmed that everything was clear and well understood. The entire process took approximately one and half-hours because the questions were clearly set. Results After the interview process, the interviewer compiled the data and information he collected. After carrying out thematic analysis of the interview, several main themes were identified including causes of stress, effects, signs, affected people, and management of stress among others (Wright, 2006). The interviewer was able to get clear understanding of what is workplace stress. The interview led to the identification of various causes of workplace stress that include job insecurity and high demand for performance among others. The signs of workplace stress were clearly identified including anxiety and absenteeism among others (Snaders, 2001). It was also identified that the work stress has effects on both the individuals and the organization. The solutions to the workplace stress was also been identified. Therefore, the research questions have been answered that there are several factors causing workplace stress. They are symptoms, effects and solutions to the workplace stress according to the interview hence answering the research questions. The research findings will be discussed comprehensively on the discussion section. Discussion The interview identified a comprehensive meaning or definition of work place stress. It also established various causes of workplace stress. Signs and effects of workplace stress were also identified. The identified themes from the interview process provide support to the literature reviewed. The main point that revolved around the interview was the effects of stress in various working places and the way it affects employees of varying age and job descriptions. According to interview results, job stress was seen as a chronic disease that occurs due to workplace conditions that affect the individual’s performance and the overall well-being of his mind and body (Wright, 2006). Work related stress among the workers was also seen as the factor that affects the health and performance of the organization. According to the research, workplace stress was viewed as the harmful emotional and physical response that takes place when there is a poor match between the job demands and workers’ needs, resources, and capabilities. Some of the identified signs of workplace stress included absenteeism, depression, family conflict, and substance use, loss of mental concentration, anxiety, stress, and physical illness including headaches, back problems, and heart disease. Others included extreme frustration and anger, physical illness like migraine, stomach problems, and backaches. According to the research, workplace stress is caused by various reasons that include job insecurity, high demand for performance, pressure from investors/customers, economic factors, working for long hours, workplace culture, technology, and personal or family problems (Snaders, 2001). Due to intense economic transformations around the globe, many people are feeling insecure in their position. Takeovers, mergers, downsizing, and reorganizations have also become major stressors for employees. Unrealistic expectations or high demand for performance puts unreasonable and unhealthy pressures on employees hence stresses. This is when there is increased workload; intense pressure to meet deadline; and extremely long working hours leaves employees physically and emotionally drained. Expansion of technology has led to increased expectations in terms of productivity, efficiency and speed hence straining workers exhaustively. Adjusting to workplace culture in most instances is stressful. In other instances, employees tend to carry family problems and anxieties to the workplace (Tennant, 2001). From the research undertaken, they are various ways of preventing and reducing workplace stress. The workload was streamlined with worker’s capability and resources. Jobs have also been designed in such a way that they provide stimulation, meaning, and opportunities for workers to utilize their skills. The roles and responsibilities of workers have also been defined clearly. The workers were given an opportunity to participate in the actions and decisions affecting their jobs. They were given an chance to intermingle socially among other workers. Work schedules were set in such a way that they were compatible with responsibilities and demands outside the job. Workplace stress was known to have a major impact to the performance of an organization including reduced performance. Stress may lead to rise of blood pressure that may result to headaches or even stroke and heart attacks. Stresses leads to anxiety and depression among the individuals (Snaders, 2001). In conclusion, effects and causes of workplace stress have increased significantly in comparison to the literature review carried out mainly because of rise in technology and changes in the economic aspects. Therefore, there is need to come up with ways of assisting employees in cases of workplace stress before they become affected (Wright, 2006). Managers should engage in activities that will reduce any effects that may arise due to stresses. However, there were limitations as some symptoms of workplace stress were confused with other problems. The entire workforce including managers and employees should be actively involved in activities that would reduce the effect of workplace stress. There is need to look for other ways of reducing stress in the future in a more rapid way as technology increases and the change of economic situation is becoming unpredictable. Failure to find ways of reducing the rise and effects of workplace stresses may lead to high job burnout, less turnover resulting to decrease in the productivity and performance of the organizations. Therefore, there is need to find ways of reducing rise and effects of workplace stresses regardless of the position of an employee (Tennant, 2001). References Hogg, M. & Vaughan, G. (2005). Social Psychology. New York: Prentice Hall. McShane, S., and Travaglione, T., (2005). Organizational Behaviour on the Rim. Boston: Irwin McGraw Hill. Otto, K. & Schmidt, S. (2007). Dealing with Stress in the Workplace. European Psychologist, 12(6), pp. 272-282. Snaders, M. (2001). Minimizing Stress in the Workplace: Whose Responsibility is it? Work, 17(6), pp. 263-265. Tennant, C. (2001). Work-Related Stress and Depressive Disorders. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 51(7), 697-704. Wright, J. (2006). Stress in the Workplace: A coaching Approach. Work, 28(5), pp. 278-284. Appendices Questions Answers received What do you understand by Workplace Stress? A harmful emotional and physical response takes place when there is a poor match between the job demands and workers’ needs, resources, and capabilities. Are there factors that cause Workplace stress? Job insecurity, high demand for performance, pressure from investors/customers, economic factors, working for long hours, workplace culture, technology, and personal or family problems Are there symptoms of Workplace stress? Absenteeism, depression, family conflict, substance use, loss of mental concentration, and anxiety and stress, and physical illness including headaches, back problems, heart disease, extreme frustration and anger, physical illness including migraine, stomach problems, and backaches. Are there effects of Stress? Reduced performance of an organization, rise of blood pressure, headaches, stroke, heart attacks, anxiety and depression What are the ways of controlling Stress? Streamlining workload with worker’s capability and resources, designing jobs to provide stimulation, meaning, and opportunities, Setting work schedules in a way that they are compatible with responsibilities and demands outside the job, giving workers an opportunity to participate in the actions and decisions affecting their job, giving workers an opportunity to interact socially with others, defining the roles and responsibilities of workers. Figure 1. Summary of the Research Read More

Defining clearly the roles of workers and establishing work schedules compatible with demands of the job were identified as the ways to reduce and prevent job stress. The key aim of the interview was to identify the causes, signs, effects, and ways of reducing workplace stress. What is workplace stress? Are there causes, signs, effects, and methods of reducing workplace stress? Method Respondents/Participants The main respondent is this interview process was Human Resource Manager in an IT firm.

He was 46 years old male with 16 years working experience. He had worked for 6 years as a Human Resource Manager in the company. He was chosen to take part in this interview because as he had worked for a long time monitoring how people work and interact. He is responsible of staff training and welfare, recruitment, attendance, and employees exit. He has a lot of knowledge concerning workplace stress because of interacting with workers for a long time. He has a lot of experience on what entails the workplace stress, its impacts on the organization, and ways to reduce it.

Materials/Questionnaire The overall strategy adopted involved a set of questions in an interview transcript that were to be asked the interviewee in a face-to-face conversation. Thematic analysis was the approach used; it is an investigative method or a form of grounded theory. It works on the basis that crucial data details is entirely based on the data collected and does not rely on previous studies and research. The approach involved the use of direct questions to get responses or intended results from HRM.

There was also interview recording using tapes in order to clarify the information collected through the interview transcript. The questions were to be asked by the interviewer as he read from the interview transcript. The answers were written on the interview transcript by the interviewer as he got them from the correspondent. The questions asked included the definition of workplace stress in relation to his organization; this was meant to define and expose the real aspect or ideas revolving around workplace stress.

It was meant to make it clear what is workplace stress. The second question was to classify the key factors behind the occurrence of workplace stress or causes of stress. This was meant to identify the main reasons behind the occurrence of workplace stress. The third question asked the effects of workplace stress; this was to give and analyze the signs of workplace stress and how it is expressed among the employees. The fourth question was to know the ways of reducing workplace stress. These are factors and actions used in order to reduce the stress among the employees (Otto & Schmidt, 2007).

Procedure The interviewer and respondent were involved in an interview process in the office of Human Resource Manager within the IT Company. The interviewee was introduced to the session and informed clearly on the main issues as the recording continued concurrently. The introduction section was meant to make the correspondent aware of what the entire process was meant for and why it was, being carried out. The set questions were asked as the interviewer sought for clarification on every question while asking for examples.

After the questions, the interviewer clarified the data or information collected to ensure it was clear. The interviewer confirmed that everything was clear and well understood. The entire process took approximately one and half-hours because the questions were clearly set. Results After the interview process, the interviewer compiled the data and information he collected. After carrying out thematic analysis of the interview, several main themes were identified including causes of stress, effects, signs, affected people, and management of stress among others (Wright, 2006).

The interviewer was able to get clear understanding of what is workplace stress. The interview led to the identification of various causes of workplace stress that include job insecurity and high demand for performance among others.

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