Stress at work

The work-related stress Although it is not an illness that affects all workers equally, there are certain sectors and jobs that are more prone to suffer from it. The consequences of work-related stress are many and varied, affecting both the employee and the company itself.

But what do we mean by work-related stress? Work-related stress is a type of stress that is characterised by the fact that it originates in the work environment, that is to say, it is the stress generated by the development of the professional activity of the person who suffers from it. But although the origin is the work environment, its consequences affect all areas of the worker's life.

In Spain, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), half of workers admit to experiencing stress at work in the last year. It is therefore a widespread problem that affects the people who suffer from it both physically and mentally, lowering motivation and damaging the health of the sufferer.

Work-related stress decreases the motivation of the professional, affecting their concentration and reducing their ability to work at the highest productive level. directly affects the profitability of the company. If there is stress at work, solutions must be found to reduce it as quickly as possible. Learning how to manage work-related stress with well-designed solutions tailored to each individual company is essential to keep the business growing.

For all these reasons, learning how to manage stress is essential to minimise the pressure and reduce its effects on our bodies. Let's look at it in more detail below what are the most common causes of stress and how to combat it?, The employee and the employer must be involved in this process.

What is stress and typologies

Stress is a a set of physiological reactions that occur when a person undergoes a state of nervous tension, The result of various situations at work or in the personal sphere. In small episodes, stress can be positive, as it provokes a response in the person who suffers from it that helps them to avoid a danger or to fulfil a certain task in a limited period of time. The problem comes when stress becomes chronic, as it can damage the health of the sufferer.

There are several types of stress:

• Normal stress. These are the physiological reactions that occur in our organism in certain situations and that are normal, helping us to face and overcome some difficult situations.
• Pathological stress. When stress occurs over a long period of time. It can cause significant physical and psychological problems.
• Post-traumatic stress. It occurs after a person has experienced some kind of very traumatic event, such as a car accident or a near death. As a result of these traumas, the person suffers from frequent terrifying thoughts related to the situation they experienced.
• Work-related stress. They are a set of harmful reactions, both emotional and physical, that occur when demands in the workplace exceed the resources, capabilities and/or needs of the worker.

Some individuals suffer from stress more easily than others and certain situations are more likely to trigger stress. Carrying out a Stress management is absolutely necessary, Otherwise, it could negatively affect the achievement of individual and organisational objectives.

Causes of work-related stress

The most common causes of stress at work need to be clearly identified in order to take measures to reduce its impact. Workplace stress can be caused by a variety of factors, including wide range of factors, Some of the most frequent are:

• High workloads. Excessive amounts of work and unrealistic deadlines can leave people feeling rushed, pressured and overwhelmed.
• Insufficient workloads. In this case workers feel that their skills are being under-utilised, which makes them feel more insecure.
• Lack of control. Not having control over work activities triggers stress.
• Lack of support. Lack of interpersonal support or poor working relationships make the worker feel lonely and stressed.
• Lack of skills. Stress arises when people are asked to do a job for which they have no experience or training.
• Adaptation to change. Difficulty in settling into a new promotion, both in terms of meeting the demands of the new role and adapting to possible changes in relationships with colleagues.
• Occupational safety concerns. Concerns about job security, lack of career opportunities or pay levels lead to stress.
• Bullying or harassment.
• Culture of guilt. It often occurs in companies where employees are afraid to make mistakes or to admit to having made mistakes.
• Weak or ineffective management. It leaves employees disoriented, without a sense of direction.
• Micromanagement. Team management style whereby a manager closely observes and controls the work of his or her employees by paying excessive attention to minor details. This can cause employees to undervalue themselves and affect their self-esteem.
• Presence of unclear chains of command. It is exacerbated when each manager asks for his or her work to be prioritised.
• Lack of communication. Failure to keep employees informed about important changes in the business makes them feel insecure about their future.
• Poor working conditions. For example excessive heat, cold, humidity or noise, poor lighting, uncomfortable seating, etc., are behind many cases of stress.
• Labour unrest. Perhaps the most important stress generator.

For all these causes of work-related stress, quality leadership, respect, communication and a culture of recognition, for example through flexible remuneration policies, are necessary actions on the part of the management of any company.

Symptoms of work-related stress in the worker and in the company

In the worker

Although the clearest symptoms are usually not noticeable until high levels of stress have been reached, there are some warning signs when an employee starts to suffer from stress. Some of the most important signs that we are suffering from stress at work are:

• Behavioural changes.
• Declining productivity.
• Irritability.
• Absenteeism.
• Loss of confidence.
• Memory failures.
• Concentration problems.
• Difficulty falling asleep.
• Alterations in appetite.
• Digestive problems.
• Muscle disorders.

Acute stress responses can therefore occur in the following situations different areas, such as:

• Emotions: anxiety, depression or fatigue.
• Behaviour: introspection, aggressiveness, sadness or demotivation.
• Thought: difficulties in concentration and problem solving.
• Physical condition: palpitations, nausea or headaches.

If stress persists, changes in neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, autonomic and immune function may occur, which could lead to mental and physical health disorders.

In the company

The most common symptoms that we can perceive in a company in which its workers suffer from stress are:

• Increased conflict between colleagues.
• Declining productivity due to a drop in the motivation of some workers.
• Increase in the number of errors, This can also damage the image of the business and the employer brand.
• Increase in absenteeism and the rotation.

It is true that without a certain degree of stress we are less able to adapt to change. However, prolonged excess stress can lead to both physical and mental pathologies that will affect our productivity.

In the case of the organisation, having stressed employees leads it towards a worsening work climate, talent drain and declining customer satisfaction.

Consequences of work-related stress for the company

When discussing work-related stress and its consequences, the focus is often on the impact on the person who is stressed. However, this condition also causes adverse effects on their work and the company for which it provides its services.

When not just one, but several employees suffer from work-related stress, the consequences increase, as does the impact on the organisation. Stressed employees may miss work, they may come to work but not perform their duties, and they may suffer from other health problems that develop as a result of stress. These factors will have a significant impact on the company in such different ways as the following:

• Motivation problems. This translates into a drop in their productivity.
• Staff turnover and increased recruitment and training costs. As a result, staff turnover may increase and experienced employees may leave the organisation. The company will have to recruit new employees, which involves a considerable investment in time and resources.
• Declining productivity and efficiency. Stressed employees are less productive and efficient, and this, combined with absenteeism, low morale and staff turnover, will have a negative impact on the organisation's productivity and efficiency.
• Loss of quality of customer service. It is very difficult to maintain customer service levels with staff absenteeism, high turnover, morale and motivation problems, low productivity and inefficiencies. This leads to increased complaints and possible loss of customers.
• Worsening of communication and relationships. When employees are stressed, they are more irritable and withdrawn, which, combined with low morale, negatively affects team dynamics, communication inside and outside the company, and internal and external relationships.

Consequences of work-related stress for the worker

Of course, the consequences of work-related stress directly affect the worker himself/herself. In this case, it is most common for the employee to present anxiety in their daily life and reluctance or idleness at work. This can have a significant impact on other areas of their lives, leading to insomnia, chronic fatigue, moodiness, digestive disorders, depression or lack of ability to concentrate among many other consequences.

When suffering from work-related stress the worker is less efficient and competent in the tasks of their job. In addition, it has been found that workers suffering from work-related stress have a higher higher absence rate than other workers, The main reason for this is medical leave as a result of various stress-related illnesses. As a result, work-related stress reduces the competitiveness of workers.

Other of the most important problems generated by work-related stress for the worker are:

• Job stress is one of the main causes of sick leave that are signed on a daily basis both in Spain and in the rest of Europe.
• Long-term work-related stress is one of the reasons for the famous Burnout syndrome.
• Job stress affects employee behaviour, This is extremely risky if we are talking about professionals dedicated to customer service, contract negotiation, human resources, etc.

How to prevent work-related stress

To help prevent stress within a company it is very important that the following aspects are assessed in this context as:

• Frequency of worker absences.
• Volume of long-term sick leave.
• Staff turnover rate.
• Health and safety incidents.
• Internal complaints rate.

This information must be analysed also taking into account the employee feedback, management experience or customer feedback, This can be done through surveys, group and team meetings and individual meetings.

Once the extent of stress in the organisation, the areas most affected and the departments where action is needed as a priority have been determined, solutions need to be considered.

The incentive schemes or the implementation of a new wage model, as the flexible compensation, can give a boost to employee morale and help keep their motivation levels high. They are effective methods of combating stress and its consequences, just like the individual recognition or the design of personalised rewards, according to the needs, interests and expectations of each employee.

Practices that employees can do that help combat work-related stress

A worker must know how to keep stress at work at bay and the first step is to recognise it. Once its signs are identified, there are various ways to get rid of it:

• Locating the source of work-related stress. The workload, the relationship between colleagues, superiors or subordinates or the pressure to achieve set targets are often the most common sources of stress. Once the source of the problem has been identified, it is necessary to act and optimise what needs to be improved. Dealing with stress will only be possible if the reasons for the stress are understood.
• Organise the day-to-day by prioritising what is important. Order helps to keep things under control. Once everything is organised, it is time to prioritise activities so that the most important ones are done first.
• Physical exercise. Physical activity reduces any kind of stress, and it only takes 20 minutes a day to achieve this. Regular physical activity releases endorphins (an anti-stress hormone) and helps us sleep better at night.
• Learning to relax. Breathing, meditating and seeking inner peace is a resource available to everyone.
• Take breaks. The brain needs to take breaks, even one minute for every hour of work.
• Get the necessary hours of sleep. Seven to eight hours a day are essential to rest the body and also the brain.

Practices that can be carried out by the company to help combat work-related stress

Some of the more effective measures to prevent and combat this problem are as follows:

Improving the working environment

A positive, safe, friendly and respectful working environment must be created in which employees can develop their full potential without hindrance of any kind. To achieve this, the company can:

• Implement various policies to reconcile family and professional life.
• Provide the possibility of teleworking in those positions that allow it.
• Rationalise working hours.
• Offer various non-monetary rewards, such as childcare vouchers, restaurant vouchers, etc.

Improve internal communication.

If an employee is not confident enough to discuss his or her professional problems with other employees or with his or her direct manager, these problems will continue to grow within him or her. Improving internal communication is both a solution and a preventive measure against work-related stress. This can be done by implementing measures such as:

• To set up an Intranet to facilitate communication between the different professionals and departments of the company.
• Use internal communication applications such as WhatsApp groups, Telegram groups, etc.
• Place a physical mailbox where employees can send notes to management.
• Organise workshops and group dynamics sessions guided by professionals to help improve internal communication within the company.

Conduct employee surveys

To allow them to express their opinion on the functioning of different sectors within the company. On the basis of this information, the company will be able to take appropriate measures to improve the working conditions of its own employees.

Have protocols for action in case of need.

It is essential that the company has protocols for action in case of detection of any situation that requires the attention of Human Resources, such as situations of harassment at work.

Employee career monitoring

This allows for a long-term projection of the employee, which in turn helps to steer his or her career path within the company.

Respect established schedules and holidays

One of the main causes of work-related stress is the employee's lack of ability to disconnect from work in his or her personal and family life. In this way, if working hours are respected and perfectly differentiated from those that are not, a climate will be fostered that will help to reduce the employee's work-related stress.

In the face of work-related stress, we have at our disposal various very efficient weapons to combat it, It is essential that we are surrounded by a happy, physically and emotionally balanced team of people, motivated and fully involved with the company's economic objectives. It is essential that we are surrounded by a happy, physically and emotionally balanced team, motivated and fully involved with the economic objectives of the company.

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