Pressure in the workplace is inevitable due to the requirements of the contemporary work environment. When that pressure becomes excessive or otherwise unmanageable, it leads to stress.
According to the World Health Organization, work-related stress is recognized worldwide as a major challenge to workers’ health. Stress can be harmful to workers’ health and at the same time damage their organizations’ business performance. Employers usually cannot shield workers from stress arising outside of work.
However, Doctor2Go doctors, mental health professionals, and registered nurses are available at the press of a button and can do much to help reduce work-related stress. Follow up telephone calls from a Doctor2Go telehealth nurse are simple and convenient, and may go a long way in the quest towards stress prevention.
Together with Doctor2Go employers can, to a great extent, protect their employees from stress that arises through work and reinvent the way employees access mental health services
Work stress is a real challenge for workers as well as their employing organizations. Workers who are stressed are also more likely to be unhealthy, poorly motivated, less productive and less safe at work. Stress affects different people in different ways. It can lead to unusual and dysfunctional behaviour at work and contribute to poor physical, mental and emotional health.
When affected by work stress people may become increasingly distressed and irritable; are unable to relax or concentrate; have difficulty thinking rationally and making decisions, and enjoy their work less and feel less committed to it. They may also feel tired, depressed and anxious. Some may experience serious medical problems. In extreme cases, long-term stress or traumatic events at work may lead to psychological problems and can contribute to psychiatric disorders resulting in absence from work and preventing the worker from being able to work again. When under stress, people find it hard to maintain a healthy work and life balance.
Additionally, their organisations are less likely to succeed in a competitive market. Good management and good work organisation are the best forms of stress prevention. If employees are already stressed, their managers should be aware of it and know how to help. The more support workers receive from others at work, the less likely they are to experience work stress.
As organisations and their working environments transform, so do the kinds of stress problems that employees may face. A good employer designs and manages work in a way that avoids common risk factors for stress and prevents, as much as possible, foreseeable problems. It is important that the workplace is continuously monitored for stress problems. Internal resources may include occupational health services, human resource management (personnel), training departments or other individuals with responsibility for staff well-being and health.
Also, Doctor2Go’s telehealth team can work with employers to identify stress-related behaviours and provide professional support for workers who experience work-related stress. Warning signs include worker difficulties or worker complaints of difficulties and ill health, while irritability, aggression, errors, decreased performance, higher levels of absenteeism and clients’ complaints are more obvious signs of work-related stress. Employers should look for any changes in workers’ behaviour or health.
Where these signs coincide with excessive work pressures or demands, employers should consider that the workers may be suffering from work stress. Doctor2Go have mental health professionals and doctors who can work with individual employees to help manage their stress and improve their overall mental health. Work stress is a challenge to workers’ health and the health of their organisations, but can be managed effectively with the right tools.
References
Employment New Zealand (2017). Stress Leave: An employer may provide an employee with sick leave if they have work-related stress.https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/other-types-of-leave/stress-leave/
Leka Stavroula, Griffiths Amanda, Cox Tom (2003).Protecting Workers’ Health Series No. 3
Work organization and stress. World Health Organization: Geneva. http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/en/oehstress.pdf
State Government of Victoria (2017). Work-related stress https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/work-related-stress
Worksafe Victoria (2017. Effects of work-related stress.
http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/pages/safety-and-prevention/health-and-safety-topics/work-related-stress/effects-of-stress