Stress in the Workplace

Stress in the workplace has reached epidemic proportions. According to a new study by the federal government's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2002), more than half the working people in the U.S. view job stress as a major problem in their lives. That's more than double the percentage in similar studies a decade ago. According to Stephen Minter (2003) NIOSH defines job stress as "the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources or needs of the worker." Stress is present in all organizations and effects employees on every level of the corporate ladder. This paper will focus on the causes, effects and prevention of stress in the workplace.

Causes

Most recent studies show that the number one reason for stress in the workplace is a lack of organization. The inability to properly classify, prioritize, and delegate responsibilities in such a way as to achieve expected results would best summarize a lack of organization.

English: Stress Management for IT professionals

Therapy dog

Work Stress

This inability is not always the fault of the individual(s) in charge of the business or corporation. The breakdown is very often created by the workload and work environment. For instance, an insufficient time deadline is one reason why the organization of a project may be less than adequate. When unrealistically short deadlines are given, there is not enough time to properly prepare so that the best possible project may be presented. Insufficient work space may also be attributed to a lack of organization. So too can a lack of motivation, insufficient budgets, and in some occasions, an overall inability, or shortness of knowledge on how to arrange.

Other causes of stress in the workplace can be attributed to the individual's role within a group. When attempting to focus on career development, an...