OF COURSE YOU’RE OF COURSE YOU’RE STRESSED! STRESSED! Coping with Stress, Loss and Trauma in the Workplace Dr John Gasson MBChB,FCA(SA)LRCP(Edin)LRCS(Edin)LRCP&S(Glasg) CAPE TOWN June 5 th 2003
Jan 04, 2016
OF COURSE YOU’RE OF COURSE YOU’RE STRESSED!STRESSED!
Coping with Stress, Loss and Trauma in the Workplace
Dr John GassonMBChB,FCA(SA)LRCP(Edin)LRCS(Edin)LRCP&S(Glasg)
CAPE TOWN
June 5th 2003
REFER TO COMPANY POLICY STATEMENT
What happens when an employee reports stress or a
stress related problem?
Formal assessment conducted by EAP
Develop action plan
What happens when minor
incidents that are assumed to be stress related,
continue to occur? (See Modules 4 and 5)
What happens when a critical incident occurs
that is thought to be stress related? (See Modules 4 and 5)
Structured interview/
intervention conducted by EAP
Employee admits to
problem and requests/agrees to
help
YES OR NO?
Disciplinary action as appropriate, according to company policy Disciplinary action and EAP’s are separate issues that should be addressed concurrently but separately
(See Module 9 on the Legal Framework, especially the Labour Relations Act)
On-site help
Educate on specific stress management strategies
Stress reduction program
Change in stressors Empowerment
(increased job autonomy)
Alternative employment options
(See Modules 7 and 8)
Refer for
Professional Stress Counselling
Psychiatric referral Medical therapy
SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME
YES OR NO?
YES
Reintegration of employee into
work environment with ongoing
monitoring by EAP
YES
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMME
…targeting management and
employees (See Modules 1 to 6
inclusive, plus Module 10 on the
Business Impact, Module 8 on an Organisational
Stress Audit and Appendix 1 on Self-Evaluation)
Company Stress Management Policy and Programme
Development
Stress Prevention Strategies (See Modules 7
and 8)
NO
NO
STRESS MANAGING STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE:
A GUIDE TO USING THE EAP TOOLKIT
REFER TO COMPANY POLICY STATEMENT (See Modules 11 and 12) What happens
when an employee reports a problem
related to loss or trauma?
Formal assessment conducted by EAP Develop action
plan
What happens when minor
incidents that are assumed to be related to
loss and trauma, continue to
occur?
(See Module 5)
What happens when a critical incident occurs that is thought to be related to
loss and trauma?
(See Module 5)
Structured interview/
intervention conducted by EAP (See especially Module 8 on Communication skills)
Employee admits to
problem and requests/agrees to
help
YES OR NO?
Disciplinary action as appropriate, according to company policy Disciplinary action and EAP’s are separate issues that should be addressed concurrently but
separately (See Module 9 on the Legal Framework, especially the Labour Relations Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment, plus
Grants and Pensions if Termination of Employment becomes appropriate)
On-site help (see especially Module 7)
Flexible work
schedules Offers of practical
help Evaluation of
referral source Communication and
coping skills for colleagues and managers
(See Modules 7 and 8)
Refer for
Professional Trauma Counselling
(See Module 7)
Psychiatric referral Medical therapy
(See Module 7)
SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME
YES OR NO?
NO
NO
YES
Reintegration of employee into
work environment with ongoing
monitoring by EAP
YES
EDUCATION AND
AWARENESS PROGRAMME
targeting management
and employees (See Modules 2 to 5 inclusive, plus Module 10 on the Business Impact, and Module 13)
Prevention Strategies
(See Module 6)
Company Loss and Trauma Policy and
Programme Development
(See Modules 11 and 12)
LOSS AND TRAUMA MANAGING LOSS AND TRAUMA IN THE
WORKPLACE: A GUIDE TO USING THE EAP TOOLKIT
STRESSSTRESSA survival response involving the
primitive emotional brain….the limbic system
• Final common pathway….
THE STRESS HORMONES
• Fixed behavioural responses
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESS
SUPERACHIEVER
SUPERPLEASER
AGGRESSIVELY
PASSIVELY
JOHN GASSON
THREE BAD THREE BAD THINGSTHINGS ABOUT
STRESS
THREE GOOD THREE GOOD THINGSTHINGS ABOUT
STRESS
THREE THREE THINGS TO DOTHINGS TO DO ABOUT STRESS
JOHN GASSON
• It makes you behave like an idiot
STRESSSTRESS
Three Bad Things
JOHN GASSON
• It makes you behave like an idiot
• It makes you ill
STRESSSTRESS
Three Bad Things
JOHN GASSON
• It makes you behave like an idiot
• It makes you ill
• It turns you into an idiot
STRESSSTRESS
Three Bad Things
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESS
Three Good Things
It keeps you alive
JOHN GASSON
Performance
Apathy Boredom
Anxiety Terror
Stress
Underload Optimal Overload
stress
JOHN GASSON
THE STRESS CONTINUUMTHE STRESS CONTINUUM
STRESSSTRESS
Three Good Things
It keeps you alive
It keeps you focused
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESS
Three Good Things
It keeps you alive
It keeps you focused
It can be fun
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESS
THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF STRESS
HORMONES
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESSTHREE THINGS TO DO ABOUT
IT
R ECOGNISE IT
A TTITUDE CHANGE
M OBILISE
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESSTHREE THINGS TO DO ABOUT
IT
R ECOGNISE IT
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESSTHREE THINGS TO DO ABOUT
IT
R ECOGNISE IT
A TTITUDE CHANGE
Explore your options
JOHN GASSON
CORPORATE ATTITUDE CORPORATE ATTITUDE CHANGESCHANGES
STRESS LEVELS
Cognitive evaluation- (personal interpretation)
Feelings ofcompetency
Availability ofsocial supports
Control over own
destination
Predictability ofstressful events
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESSTHREE THINGS TO DO ABOUT
IT
R ECOGNISE IT
A TTITUDE CHANGE
M OBILISE
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESSA PERSONAL ACTION PLAN
R ECOGNISE IT
A TTITUDE CHANGE
M OBILISE
JOHN GASSON
QUESTIONS?
Of course I’m stressed ?
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESSSUMMARY
STRESS AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS
STRESS CAN BE SERIOUS
START A PERSONAL ACTION PLAN NOW!
JOHN GASSON
STRESSSTRESS
PERSONAL ACTION PLANPERSONAL ACTION PLAN
R ECOGNISE IT
A TTITUDE CHANGE
M OBILISE
JOHN GASSON
EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS