Describe what are the main sources of stress at work are in general? Do any of these apply to you as a student? If so, what could you do to alleviate it?

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With reference to relevant theories, describe what the main sources of stress at work are in general? Do any of these apply to you as a student? If so, what could you do to alleviate it?

Stress has become a big concern of the employers and investors as it is single largest reason of work absenteeism resulting in lose of millions of working days every year. (Money Marketing, 2004) This has resulted in loses to businesses reaching in billions of pounds each year. (Management Services, 2004; Credit Management, 2003) British government as well as international governing bodies such as European Union has stepped in and trying to tackle the problem of increasing stress in workplace by publishing guidelines for managers.

Stress could be described as organism's response to external factors such as physical or psychological pressure, which pushes one's mental capabilities to cope with it to the maximum.

(Fincham, R. and Rhodes, P. 2005) Cavanaugh et al. (2000) found that stressors can be divided into three categories: challenge, hindrance, and others (ones that does not exactly fit in any of the previous two). They conducted a research, which showed that the challenge related stressors increase ones job satisfaction while hindrance stressors decrease job satisfaction while increases job search (wish to leave the job and look for another). Nevertheless not only the nature of the task but the way task is presented is important. Study has revealed that differing on the way task is presented recipient may perceive it as a threat or as a challenge. Although the results achieved are almost the same impacts on body are very different, therefore possibly causing health problems in long run if task are perceived as threat. (Tomaka, J. et al 1997)

This essay is focused on stress as a...