Occupational Stress : a key issue for the RAF

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Organisational Behaviour Week 8 Stress at
Work Chapter 8 of Kahn and MacKay

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Occupational Stress

• Why do we study stress?
• To improve the quality of working life

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Occupational Stress

• Cost to UK p.a. -
• 5 billion to 12 billion
• 90 million working days lost
• Stress costs the average organisation of 1,000
  staff 200,000 per annum

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Occupational Stress
1 What is occupational stress? 2 The
outcomes of occupational stress 3 The
sources of occupational stress 4 Managing
occupational stress
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Occupational Stress
Stress occurs when pressure exceeds your
perceived ability to cope Stress is the "wear
and tear" our bodies and minds experience as we
adjust to our continually changing
environment. Stress can be positive or
negative. Stress can be short-term (acute) or
long-term (chronic).
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Occupational Stress

• Stress affects
• managers employees
• at all levels

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Occupational Stress

• Organisations suffer -
• Poor performance
• Industrial relations difficulties
• Accidents
• High sickness absence
• High turnover of staff

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Occupational Stress

• You suffer -

• Headache
• Heartburn
• Backache
• General fatigue
• Smoking more
• Drinking more
• Abusing drugs

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Occupational Stress

• You suffer -

• Family problems
• Sleep disturbances
• Sexual difficulties
• Burnout
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Heart disease

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Occupational Stress
The sources of occupational stress

• The job itself

• Role of the individual at work

• Career development

• Relationships with others at work

• Organisational structure and climate

• Home-work interface

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Occupational Stress
Factors linked to stress - TUC 2004
survey Workloads 79 Cuts in staff 49
Change 47 Long hours 37 Bullying 27
Shiftwork 22 Cramped working
conditions 17 Redundancies 14 Sex or
racial harassment 3
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Occupational Stress
Personality differences

• Type A Behaviour

• Negative affectivity

• Anxiety

• Locus of control

• Sex differences

• Age, experience and ability

• Coping techniques

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Occupational Stress

• The general adaptation syndrome (Hans Selye)
• Stage1 alarm
• an environmental demand is identified as
  threatening
• Stage 2 resistance
• resources are gathered to cope with the demand
• Stage 3 exhaustion
• resources are worn out - serious damage may occur

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Occupational Stress
What happens to you when youre under
stress? We are just cavemen and cavewomen
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Occupational Stress
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Occupational Stress
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Occupational Stress
Fight...
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Occupational Stress
......or Flight
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Occupational Stress
What happens?

• Increased heart rate
• Blood pressure goes up, blood thickens,
• more sugar in blood
• Breathing becomes more rapid
• Stress hormones are released
• adrenaline
• noradrenaline

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Occupational Stress
What happens?

• Endorphins are secreted
• Muscles tighten
• Changes in blood flow and circulation
• All senses are sharpened
• Neo-cortex closes down -
• middle and lower parts of brain take over
• Body sweats

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A MODEL OF STRESS
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SOURCES OF STRESS AT WORK
The job itself Job role Career development Relatio
nships Organisational structure Home-work
interface
A MODEL OF STRESS
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SOURCES OF STRESS AT WORK
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER- ISTICS
The job itself Job role Career development Relatio
nships Organisational structure Home-work
interface
Personality Demographics Coping techniques
A MODEL OF STRESS
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SOURCES OF STRESS AT WORK
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER- ISTICS
SYMPTOMS OF OCCUPATIONAL ILL-HEALTH
Individual Blood pressure Cholesterol Heart
rate Smoking Depression Drinking Drugs Job
dissatisfaction Reduced aspiration etc.
The job itself Job role Career development Relatio
nships Organisational structure Home-work
interface
Personality Demographics Coping techniques
Organisational Absenteeism Staff turnover IR
difficulties Quality control
A MODEL OF STRESS
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SOURCES OF STRESS AT WORK
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER- ISTICS
SYMPTOMS OF OCCUPATIONAL ILL-HEALTH
DISEASE
Individual Blood pressure Cholesterol Heart
rate Smoking Depression Drinking Drugs Job
dissatisfaction Reduced aspiration etc.
Coronary heart disease Mental ill health
The job itself Job role Career development Relatio
nships Organisational structure Home-work
interface
Personality Demographics Coping techniques
Strikes Accidents Poor performance
Organisational Absenteeism Staff turnover IR
difficulties Quality control
A MODEL OF STRESS
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Occupational Stress
Managing stress

• Relaxation training

• Biofeedback

• Cognitive techniques

• Exercise

• Time management skills

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Occupational Stress
Managing stress

• Meditation
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Breathing exercises Maintain a healthy diet
• Socialise

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Occupational Stress
Managing stress
Employee Assistance Programmes
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Occupational Stress
Managing stress
Management actions and Stress audits
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Occupational Stress
If youre stressed what can you do?

• Speak to your GP
• Speak to your line manager
• Speak to a welfare organisation