STRESS...WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW CAN KILL YOU!
Stress has been delcared a workplace hazard by O.S.H.A.
Stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually because of the lost hours due to absenteeism, reduced productivity, and worker's compensation claims. It is estimated that one million workers are absent every day due to stress disorders. That equates to over 250 million workdays lost annually due to absenteeism.
The culprit? STRESS
Workers under stress sometimes respond in unhealthy ways
Stress affects each individual differently. Some experts believe that people tend to fall back into basic survival modes when they are under extreme stress.
I'm certainly not an expert, but I can share my observations of employees over the years and their reactions to stress.
The Yellers
Some people rid themselves of stress by yelling at others. Some yell at those closest to them.
Other yellers randomly choose different victims for each stressful event.
This causes stress for everyone in that section, as they never know when it will be their turn in the yelling pot.
Although it may relieve the yeller, yelling causes a vicious ripple of stress in any co-worker within hearing distance.
The Stuffers
For others, stress causes an opposite reaction. Instead of shouting, they tend to hold all of the stress inside.
They might save their co-workers from the shouting, but if they continue to stuff their feelings, something has to give.
Usually, the stuffed stress will manifest itself in illness. Some physicians have speculated that some diseases, such as cancer, could be caused or be aggravated by stress.
On rare occasions, suppressed stress -- like a bubbling volcano -- can explode into workplace violence.
The Pretenders
Others might become incapable of moving at all, as though doing nothing and pretending that nothing is wrong will actually make problems go away.
Of course, ignoring the problem never resolves anything.
Problems will continue to persist, and, in some cases, ignoring them can actually make them worse.
Like ostriches with their heads buried in the sand, pretenders refuse to face reality.
Unfortunately, if circumstances such as a layoff hit them personally, forced reality can brutally shake pretenders' illusions, causing their pretense and emotions to come crashing down.
The Blamers It is much easier not to deal with problems if you can blame someone else.
For September's terrorist attacks, we can blame Osama bin Laden.
But who do we blame for budget cuts and layoffs? Some might blame Sept. 11, state initiatives or the state's money management.
The truth is, blaming others doesn't accomplish anything.
The fact is that we have a budget crisis, and we need to work together to resolve that problem.
For some employees, pointing the finger at others has become an art. I've always believed in the saying, "When you point your finger at someone else, remember three are pointing back at you."
There are other ways that stress affects employees, but what I really wanted to say is all manifestations of stress are harmful to the employee's own health or the health of co-workers.
No matter whether employees yell at others, stuff the stress, pretend the stress isn't there or blame others -- all the behaviors are negative.
The healthiest thing state employees can do for themselves and co-workers is to find ways to eliminate stress.
Spa Works America Team
Relaxation and Wellness Specialists
256-757-1085 or Toll Free 1-877-757-1085
Email: susan@spaworksamerica.com