Job-Stress: Epidemic or Opportunity?Stress, traditionally seen as a public health issue, is now recognized by Health Canada as a workforce management issue and the World Health Organization has identified job-stress as a global epidemic.
A 2003 Statistics Canada survey on work-life conflict, which surveyed more than 31,000 workers, found more than half felt stressed, one-third felt burned out or depressed, one-quarter thought of quitting their jobs at least once a week, and one in 10 reported high absenteeism due to emotional, physical or mental fatigue. Read more Canadian workplace stress facts. Studies show that the more job control the worker has, the more productive they can be. However, it is not surprising that high job demands combined with lack of control is a key factor contributing to employee stress. According to Statistics Canada:
Job Stress and Your Health Workplace stress has been shown to cause backaches, migraines and substance abuse, all of which contribute to poor job performance. An employee may show a wide range of signs of stress from feelings of frustration, anger and hopelessness to fuzzy thinking, lack of concentration and poor decision-making. Studies also show that there are gender and stress differences in how men and women react to job-stress. Research studies indicate that increased job stress is linked to higher chances of developing symptoms of poor metabolic health including:
Stress can compromise the immune system, making a person more prone to infections and communicable illnesses, and can trigger depression. Chronic stress can lead to hypertension, depression and susceptibility to other common physical illnesses. Sources:
You never will be the person you can be if pressure, tension, and discipline are taken out of your life. James G. Bilkey
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