Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
(CORP 5068)
Presented by:
Jabir Mohamed Ali
(P14187564)
(P14187533)
WELLNESS
&
STRESS
Table of Contents
Introduction.
What is Stress ?
Types of Stress.
Main causes of Stress.
Pros & Cons of Stress.
Impact on the Organization and Individual.
Stress Management techniques.
Personal Wellness.
Types of Wellness Programs.
Wellness programs adopted by different Organizations.
Conclusion.
Introduction
Stress is an individuals physiological and emotional response to external stimuli that
places physical or psychological demands on the individual and creates uncertainty
and lack of personal control when important outcomes are at stake. (Daft, Kendrick
and Vershinina, 2010)
Organizational stress can be defined as an emotional, cognitive, behavioural and
physiological response to the aggressive and harmful aspects of work, work
environment and organizational climate. (Mirela and Mdlina-Adriana, n.d.)
Stress is often termed as a twentieth century syndrome, born out of mans race
towards modern progress and its ensuring complexities. (Benjamin Franklin)
What is Stress ?
Stress:
It is the unconscious preparation that a person experiences when faced with an un
familiar situation.
A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding
circumstances.
It occurs when an external source upsets an individuals natural and steady-state
balance.
Stressor:
The person or event that triggers a stress response.
The source may be positive or negative.
Types of Stress
Eustress:
Distress:
The adverse consequences that may arise due to stressful events.
It is a negative stress.
May be short or long- termed.
Types of Stress
How eustress and distress tend to affect the motivation and behavioural efficiency of an individual:
(Stress.org)
Types of Stress
Acute:
It is the most common; observed when change transforms the normal functioning of an individual.
It is short- termed physical condition and passes quickly; easily manageable.
Symptoms: emotional distress, muscular tension, elevated blood pressure levels.
Episodic acute:
Those who suffer from acute stress frequently; caused due to extensive worrying.
Symptoms: persistent muscular tension; extreme cases being aggressive, impatient and resistant
to change.
Chronic:
Grinding stress which wears a person away;
It is long-termed destroying both, ones mental and physical state.
Symptoms: since the resources tend to deplete via continuous attrition, they are difficult to point
out and may require extended medical treatment and stress management.
(Apa.org, n.d.)
Organizational:
Occupational stress- stemming from unexpected responsibilities that dont align with
an individuals knowledge or skill set, thereby inhibiting their ability to cope.
Job insecurity and workplace culture; may arise due to little control over work process
High performance demand and expectation from junior employees.
Work overload; time pressure; poor physical working conditions.
Advantages of Stress
Enables concentration thus leading to increases performance.
Energizes one into motion for instance pushing employers to perform more frequent risk
assessments.
Motivates the staff to express themselves.
Acts as a motivation to complete assigned task or reach target goals.
Challenges employees which helps in personal and skill development.
Better workflow in the future is ensured.
Capable of adapting to changes and working under pressure.
Advantages of Stress
Economic benefits
Management benefits
Disadvantages of Stress
Low employees morale and motivation.
Lack of commitment; Reduced effectiveness.
Lack of job security; High employee turnover.
High rate of absenteeism.
It is the single biggest causes of sickness in the UK. Nearly 105 million days are lost to
stress every year, costing billions of pounds.
More management time being spent on resolving the issues arising from stress.
(Jstor.org, 1980)
Personal Wellness
Conclusion
Stress is our natural way of reacting to the challenging situations that we encounter.
Our research has lead us to believe that stress, in small doses is beneficial for one and all
as it has multiple advantages associated.
In recent years though, organizations have seen cases of increased stress amongst its
employees, which is why stress and wellness programs are the need of the hour.
Every person has a different way of dealing and coping with stress. Firms must recognize
this and tailor programs as per the need of varying individuals.
We hope that companies would be able to create a stress-free work environment for the
betterment of the individual and organization further contributing to the society as a
whole.
References
Boguslawska, K. (2014). What employers need to know about stress at work. Management Services, 58(1),
10.
Company, G. (2016). Google Employees Reveal Their Favorite Perks About Working For The Company.
[online] Business Insider. Available at: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-employees-favorite-perks-20147?IR=T#the-techstop-helps-googlers-stay-plugged-in-with-24-7-tech-support-4 [Accessed 27 Dec. 2015].
Daft, R., Kendrick, M. and Vershinina, N. (2010). Management. Andover: South-Western/Cengage Learning.
Hargrove, M., Nelson, D. and Cooper, C. (2013). Generating eustress by challenging employees.
Organizational Dynamics, 42(1), pp.61-69.
Ilo.org, (2015). Stress Prevention at Work Checkpoints app. [online] Available at:
http://www.ilo.org/safework/info/publications/WCMS_438081/lang--en/index.htm [Accessed 4 Jan. 2016].
Jack, G. and Brewis, J. (2005) Introduction to Wellness. Culture and Organization, 11(2): 6568.
Jstor.org, (1980). Work Environment Research and Social Change: Current Developments in Scandinavia on
JSTOR. [online] Available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3004060 [Accessed 3 Jan. 2016].
L. Cooper, C. (2005). Handbook of stress medicine and health. [online] Crcnetbase.com. Available at:
http://www.crcnetbase.com/doi/pdfplusdirect/10.1201/9781420039702.fmatt [Accessed 2 Jan. 2016].
McGillivray, D. (2005) Fitter, Happier, More Productive: Governing Working Bodies Through Wellness. Culture
and Organization, 11(2): 12538.
References
McMahon, G. (2008). Stress at work. Training Journal, 62.
Michie, S. (2002) Causes and management of stress at work. Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 59(1):
67- 72.
Mirela, B. and Mdlina-Adriana, C. (n.d.). ORGANIZATIONAL STRESS AND ITS IMPACT ON WORK
PERFORMANCE. [online] core.ac.uk. Available at: http://core.ac.uk/download/files/153/6294441.pdf [Accessed
6 Jan. 2016].
Parks, K. and Steelman, L. (2008) Organizational Wellness Programs. Journal of Occupational Health
Psychology, 13(1): 5868.
OPEN Forum, (2013). 10 Crazy Corporate Wellness Programs That Work. [online] Available at:
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/crazy-corporate-wellness-programsthat-work/ [Accessed 20 Dec. 2015].
Rothfeld, L. (2015). 7 companies with amazingly unique wellness programs. [online] Mashable. Available at:
http://mashable.com/2015/05/15/unique-corporate-wellness-programs/#0DLfl_EDRkq3 [Accessed 16 Dec.
2015].
Stress.org, (n.d.). American Institute of Stress is dedicated to advancing the understanding of Stress in Health
and Illness.. [online] Available at: http://www.stress.org [Accessed 4 Jan. 2016].