{"id":228,"date":"2019-05-07T04:41:24","date_gmt":"2019-05-07T04:41:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hsp03.epgpbooks.inflibnet.ac.in\/?post_type=chapter&p=228"},"modified":"2019-05-07T05:01:59","modified_gmt":"2019-05-07T05:01:59","slug":"occupational-stress-causes-and-measurement-and-remedies","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in\/hsp03\/chapter\/occupational-stress-causes-and-measurement-and-remedies\/","title":{"rendered":"OCCUPATIONAL STRESS, CAUSES AND MEASUREMENT AND REMEDIES"},"content":{"raw":"
\"epgp<\/a>\r\n<\/span><\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n
\r\n\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 OBJECTIVES<\/strong>:\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nTo understand how to reduce the occupational stress in the personnel\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nIntroduction<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n

The word stress is derived from the latin term \u2018stringers\u2019 which means \u201cto draw tight\u201d. Some defines stress as the non \u2013specific response of the body to any demands made on it. When the demands on an individual exceed his capability and adjustments resources stress occurs. Stress is different from anxiety which is a state of uncertainty. It is also different from agitation which is the physical part of anxiety. Stress also differs from frustration which is blocked goal attainment. Occupational stress is an internal phenomenon and a mental attitude. If stress is the condiment, strain is the salt and if there is an imbalance in condiment-salt relationship, the result is implantable. Stress is generally believed to have a deleterious effect on health and performance. It is the individual\u2019s reaction to stress which makes all the difference.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

Occupational stress <\/strong>can be defined <\/strong>as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job<\/strong> do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. Job stress<\/strong> can lead to poor health and even injury. In short, the stage is set for illness, injury, and job<\/strong> failure. It is a condition arising from the interaction of people<\/strong> and their jobs and characterized by changes within people that force them to deviate from their normal functioning.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n

Occupational stress <\/strong>is a major hazard for many workers. Increased workloads, downsizing, overtime, hostile work environments, and shift work are just a few of the many causes of stressful working conditions. Thus, stress is a mental, emotional or physical reaction from an individual\u2019s response to environmental pressure and similar stimuli. It refers to pressures people feel in life. Hans Selyes, father of stress, believes that stress is spice of life and absence of stress is death. Different persons respond to stressful situation in different ways.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nCauses of Organization stress<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n

1.\u00a0Goals<\/strong>: Goal set should be realistic. Unrealistic goal set at very high level cause stress<\/p>\r\n

2.\u00a0Policies and Procedures<\/strong>: Unfavourable policies and difficult procedures causes stress<\/p>\r\n

3.Rules and Regulations<\/strong>: Strict and inflexible rules designed to affect workers result in stress<\/p>\r\n

4.\u00a0Working conditions<\/strong>: Employees feel stressful if the working conditions are unhealthy, unsafe and affect performance.<\/p>\r\n

5.Compensation<\/strong>: Low salaries and wages discrimination in wages, lack of incentives, delayed payments etc causes stress<\/p>\r\n

6.Job Design<\/strong>: Poorly designed jobs, mismatch between jobs and skills unrealistic job descriptions etc give rise to stress<\/p>\r\n

7.Organization structure <\/strong>: Defective structure results in high degree of specialization, excessive interdependence among departments, line and staff conflicts etc<\/p>\r\n

8.\u00a0Performance Appraisal<\/strong>: Bias, unfairness and lack of transparency give rise to stress<\/p>\r\n

9.\u00a0Job loss<\/strong>: The unexpected loss of a job can take an emotional toll on individuals especially in situation where personnel are not financially prepared to deal with this set back<\/p>\r\n

10.Frequent overworking <\/strong>: The overworking may leads to an increased risk of high blood pressure especially for those who do not feel as though they have a great deal of control our their job duties<\/p>\r\n

11. Conflicting or nuclear job Expectations<\/p>\r\n

12.Lack of compensation for the types of work<\/p>\r\n

13.Poor interpersonal relationships with coworkers<\/p>\r\n

14.Career concerns, such as job insecurity<\/p>\r\n

15.Extremes of work activity<\/p>\r\n

16. Unpleasant or dangerous work conditions such as overcrowding , noise and air pollution<\/p>\r\n

17.Commuting to work<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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In these causes the psychosocial stressors<\/strong> <\/a>are a major cause of occupational stress:<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\nWorking conditions<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWorkload<\/strong>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nIn an occupational setting, dealing with workload can be stressful and serve as a stressor <\/a>for employees. There are three aspects of workload that can be stressful.\r\n