Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
In.the.workplace,.some.factors.have.been.shown.to.create.stress.for.some.workers..
They.are.the.lack.of.control.on.the.job,.the.failure.to.it.into.the.workplace.social.
structure,.excessive.demands.of.a.job,.or.severe.time.expectations..Other.job.charac-
teristics.that.contribute.to.workplace.stress.are
•. Jobs.with.high.demand.and.low.control
•. Repetitious.or.hurried-pace.jobs
•. Low-skill.jobs
•. Jobs.requiring.interaction.with.demanding.colleagues
•. High-vigilance.jobs
•. Jobs.with.nontraditional.work.schedules.or.substantial.overtime
The. lack. of. job. security. has. become. very. real. with. so. much. reorganizing. and.
downsizing. transpiring. in. the. business. community.. Career. pressures. including.
increased. responsibility. are. viewed. as. stressors. by. many. workers.. Some. workers.
have.jobs.that.are.too.complex.for.their.talents,.abilities,.or.skills..Last,.but.by.no.
means.unimportant,.is.the.physical.environment.such.as.noise,.temperature.extremes,.
lighting,.space,.and.odors..Other.work.environment.stressors.are
•.
Risk.of.workplace.violence
•.
High.or.conlicting.expectations
•.
Cronyism.or.favoritism
•.
Various.types.of.harassment.(bullying,.sexual,.verbal,.etc.)
Employers. must. take. workplace. stress. seriously. when. they. have. warning. signs.
such.as
•.
Worker.have.little.to.say.about.how.they.do.their.job
•.
Workers.who.express.feelings.of.being.rushed
•.
Productivity.is.decreasing
•.
Employees.are.frequently.sick.or.increase.in.work.injuries
•.
Anxiety.due.to.changes.in.organization,.cuts,.or.loss.of.beneits
•.
More.displays.of.anger.or.frustration
•.
Employees.express.a.sense.of.being.stressed
These. types. of. stressors. may. manifest. themselves. in. actual. physical. disorders.
such. as. gastrointestinal. disorders.. Most. health. conditions. develop. or. are. exacer-
bated.by.stressors..Many.workers.have.complained.and.iled.work-related.claims.for.
all.types.of.illnesses.where.stress.is.considered.a.contributing.factor.in.the.illness.
or.disability.
Most.workplaces.have.instituted.employee.assistance.programs.to.assist.workers.
in.coping.with.workplace.stress..Other.action.employers.can.take.include
•.
Give.workers.greater.control.and.say.over.their.jobs.
•.
Realize.stressor.at.home.can.affect.work.
•.
Improve.communications.and.relationships.
