© 2013 Cengage Learning 1. 2 Free Write Describe a job in which you were very stressed. What caused the stress? What did you do to reduce the stress?

© 2013 Cengage Learning

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Free WriteDescribe a job in which you were very stressed.

What caused the stress?What did you do to reduce the stress?


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Stress Terms

• Stress– The psychological and physical reaction to

certain life events or situations.

• Stressor– The life event that causes stress

• Strain– The consequences of stress


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Types of Stress• Eustress

– Stress converted to positive energy

– Desirable outcome of stress

– Motivational results

– Optimal level of arousal

• Distress– Negative outcome

– Results in emotional and physical illness


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Can stress be a good thing?


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Predisposition to Stress• Stress Personalities

– Type A vs. Type B

– Pessimists vs. Optimists

– Neuroticism

• Gender, Ethnicity, Race• Stress Sensitization


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Sources of StressPersonal Stressors

• Fear

• Resistance

• Resentment


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Sources of StressOccupational Stressors

• Job Characteristics– Role conflict

– Role ambiguity

– Role overload

• Organizational Characteristics– Person/organization fit

– Change

– Relations with others

– Organizational politics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Z9yOEH6oQ


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Correlates of Employee StressAntecedents

Antecedent Corrected Correlation Meta-Analysis

Organizational Politics .45 Miller et al. (2008)

Job Insecurity .19 Sverke et al. (2002)

Lack of Fit

Person-job .28 Kristof-Brown et al. (2005)

Person-organization .27 Kristof-Brown et al. (2005)

Lack of Support

Coworkers .18 Viswesvaran et al. (1999)

Supervisors .24 Viswesvaran et al. (1999)


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Sources of StressPhysical Work Environment

• Noise

• Temperature

• Work schedule


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Important Noise FactorsMost Disruptive Least Disruptive

High frequency Low frequency

Unpleasant Pleasant

Intermittent Continuous

Unnecessary Necessary

Unpredictable Predictable

Unfamiliar Familiar

Person is noise sensitive Person is not noise sensitive


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Effects of Noise on Health

• Hearing loss

• Increased blood pressure

• More frequent illness


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Effects of Noise on Performance

• Affects quality more than quantity• Decreased performance on cognitive

tasks• Decreased job satisfaction


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Effects of Noise on Behavior

• Narrowed focus

• Lower altruism

• Decreased eye contact

• Increased rate of walking


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Effects of Noise at Different LevelsSource of Noise Decibels Effect

Rocket launch 180

Jet takeoff 130 Brief exposure can cause deafness

Riveting machine 115 Maximum legal exposure

Textile weaving plant 100 Blood pressure increases

Food blender 95 Cognitive performance drops

Employees report more illness

Angry people increase aggressiveness

City traffic 90 Legal acceptable noise limit for 8-hour day

Noisy restaurant 70 Telephone use is difficult


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OSHA Noise Limits

Hours of Exposure Maximum Decibels8 90 (city traffic)

6 92

4 95 (food blender)

2 100

1 105

1/2 110 (lawn mower)

1/4 115 (riveting machine)

120 (disco)

130 (jet takeoff)


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Reducing Noise

• Legal limits to noise exposure• Change the environment (e.g.,

carpet, acoustic tiles)• Reduce noise reaching employee

(e.g., ear plugs)• Reduce noise emitted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5po134s79Nw


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Temperature• Body reduces heat by

– radiation

– evaporation

• Body increases heat by– constricting blood vessels

• Effective temperature– air temperature

– humidity

– airflow

– temperature of objects in the environment


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Effects of Temperature

• Depend on– temperature

– task type

– workload

– amount of exposure

– rest periods


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Work Schedules


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Shift Work• 25% of employees work evening or night shifts• Shift work can disrupt circadian rhythm• Factors affecting impact of shift work

– Uniqueness of shift

– Fixed versus rotating shift

– Frequency of rotation

– Direction of the rotation

– Individual differences (chronotype)• Night people

• Morning people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl3sz3WRAN8


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Sources of StressOther Sources

• Minor frustration

• Forecasting

• Residual


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Consequences of StressOrganizational

• Job performance (curvilinear relationship)• Burnout• Absenteeism• Turnover• Drug/alcohol abuse• Health care costs


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Signs of Burnout

• Less energy• Lower productivity• Being late to work• Complaining and

negativity• Decreased

concentration• Forgetfulness

• Apathy• Dread coming to work• Feeling overwhelmed• Tension and

frustration• Feelings of little

impact on coworkers or the organization


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Correlates of Employee StressConsequences

Consequence Corrected Correlation Meta-Analysis

Job Performance - .13 Miller et al. (2008)

Turnover

Actual .13 Kristof-Brown et al. (2005)

Intended .41 Kristof-Brown et al. (2005)

OCBs - .16

Job Satisfaction - .34 Viswesvaran et al. (1999)

Commitment - .31 Viswesvaran et al. (1999)


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Consequences of StressPersonal

• Psychological– Depression

– Anxiety

– Anger

– Sleep problems

• Physical– Illness

– Headaches

– Joint pain

• Behaviors– Smoking

– Drinking

– Drug abuse


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Managing StressPlanning for Stress

• Exercise• Laughter• Diet• Smoking reduction• Sleep• Support groups• Self-empowerment• Coping skills

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk2VvBB6VmM


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Managing StressDuring and After Stress

• Relaxation techniques– Abdominal breathing

– Progressive muscle relaxation

– Meditation

• Time management


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Life/Work InterventionsAssist With Child Care

• Why the Concern?– 40% of employees have children

– Lack of child care results in 8 more days of absenteeism

• Organizational Strategies– Allow employee to bring child to work in emergency

(33%)

– Provide referral service (17%)

– Subsidize cost of child care (4%)

– Provide on-site child care facility (<1%)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bLYIQlfGdY


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Life/Work InterventionsAssist With Elder Care

• Why the Concern?– 33% of employees provide elder care– 50% of employees missed work, were late, or quit

their jobs due to elder care responsibilities

• Organizational Strategies– Provide referral service (9%)– Provide emergency elder care (2%)– Provide on-site elder care facility (<1%)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bgpoDDz1vw&feature=related


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Life/Work InterventionsProvide Alternative Work Schedules

Work Schedule Percent Offering

Flextime 53

Compressed work week 35

Job sharing 13

Source: SHRM 2011 Benefits Survey


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Life/Work InterventionsWellness Programs

Program Percent Offering

EAP 75

Wellness information 75

Health screening 42

Smoking cessation program 36

Subsidize fitness center dues 30

Weight loss programs 30


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aAQ1qCgvMs&feature=related


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Life/Work InterventionsAssist with Daily Chores

Company Benefit Percent Offering

Legal assistance 20

Dry cleaning 10

Concierge service 2

Provide take-home meals 3



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What should organizations do to reduce stress?


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Workplace Violence


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Workplace Violence• Statistics

– Homicide reason for 12% of workplace fatalities

– 1% of employees annually victims of workplace violence

– Rate of workplace violence has been declining since 1993

• Types of Workplace Violence– Homicides during commission of a crime (70%)

– Homicide of a law enforcement officer (19%)

– Acts of vengeance against employee (11%)• Committed by current employee (44%)

• Former employees (23%)

• Domestic violence (21%)

• Other (12%)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI7s9EPC9Co&feature=related


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Workplace Violence Perpetrators• Male (80%)• 20 - 50 years of age (usually in his 40s)• Self-esteem tied to job• Feels there is no other way of resolving his mistreatment

other than violence• Demonstrated a recent pattern of problems at work• Has recently tried to get others to take his dilemma seriously

by threatening, yelling, etc.• Has begun showing signs of paranoid thinking• Has become isolated and withdrawn• Has ready access to guns


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Reducing Workplace Violence

• Security measures

• Better employee screening methods

• Increased management awareness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2leLuzA77yM&feature=related


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What should a manager if she believes an employee is dangerous?


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Applied Case Study: Reducing Stress


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Focus on EthicsDoes the organization have an obligation to

reduce stress?


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What Do You Think?• Do you think companies have an ethical

responsibility to offer solutions for employees that will help reduce stress?

• Do you think companies are to blame for the high stress levels in the workplace?

• What are some things that companies can offer or do for their employees?

• Do you think employees have any responsibility for ensuring they stay healthy under stressful conditions?– If so, what are some things that employees can do for

themselves?

© 2013 Cengage Learning 1. 2 Free Write Describe a job in which you were very stressed. What caused the stress? What did you do to reduce the stress?

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