Stress Management Assessment for Workplace Value

1
Stress Management Assessment for Workplace Value

• Possibilities and Solutions
• with Nancy Plumer of New Visions
• Kingston, NY

2
Objectives for today

• Participants will
• - gain a deeper understanding of workplace
  stress,
• - reflect on the causes of stress in their
  workplace,
• - examine possibilities and strategies to
  address stress in the workplace,
• - learn one stress reduction technique,
• - have fun.

3
Agenda

• Welcome and Overview of Presentation
• Experiential Exercise
• Stress What is it?
• Facts, Figures and Data on Workplace Stress
• What Can Be Done About Workplace Stress?
  Approaches to Reducing Stress in the Workplace
• Stress Management Techniques
• Q and A

4
Exercise

• On the handout entitled Difference Between
  Tension/Relaxation, in the center column write a
  few words or a phrase for observations and
  awarenesses of what is happening in your body,
  with your thoughts and with your feelings.

5
Stress and Job Stress

• Stress is the mental, emotional or physical
  tension, stress or distress.
• Job stress results from the interaction of the
  worker and the conditions of work. Job stress is
  defined by the National Institute for
  Occupational Health and Safety 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.

6
Survey Data

• Northwestern National Life found 40 of workers
  report their job is very or extremely
  stressful.
• Yale University reported 29 of workers reported
  they feel quite a bit or extremely stressed at
  work.

7
Attitudes in the American Workplace Report
2001by The American Institute of Stress

• 65 of workers said that the workplace stress had
  caused difficulties and more than 10 identified
  these as major difficulties
• 19 or almost one in five respondents had quit a
  previous position because of job stress and
  nearly one is four have been driven to tears
  because of workplace stress
• 29 had yelled at a co-worker because of
  workplace stress, 14 said they work where
  machinery or equipment has been damaged because
  of workplace rage, 42 report that yelling and
  other verbal abuse is common
• 62 routinely find that they end the day with
  work-related neck-pain, 44 reported stressed-out
  eyes, 38 complained of hurting hands and 34
  reported difficulty in sleeping because they were
  too stressed-out
• And more.

8
Job Conditions That May Lead to Stress

• The Design of Tasks
• Management Style
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Work Roles
• Career Concerns
• Environmental Conditions

9
Workplace Stress costs include

• Health Care Related Costs
• Counterproductive Behavior in the Workplace
• Decreased Productivity
• Accidents

10
Impact of Stress

• Health Related
• Muscle tension/spasms
• Head, back and neck aches
• Indigestion leading to ulcers and colitis
• Skin irritations
• Tiredness, insomnia
• High levels of anxiety
• High blood pressure leading to stroke or
  heart disease
• Anorexia/Bulimia
• Alcohol/Drug Abuse
• Cancer
• Depression, suicide

11
Costs of Workplace Stress

• Research shows that 60 to 90 of doctor visits
  are stress related.
• Perkins, A. (1994). Saving
  money by reducing stress. Harvard
  Business Review. 72(6)12.
• Forty percent of job turnover is due to stress.
• Bureau of National Affairs

12
Costs of Workplace Stress

• A Gallup Poll of 201 U.S. corporations revealed
  that 60 of all managers felt that stress related
  illness was pervasive among their workers and
  decreased productivity at an estimated cost of 16
  days of sick leave and 8,000 per person per
  year.
• 
  The Gallup Poll
• Insurance data indicates insurance claims for
  stress-related industrial accidents cost nearly
  twice as much as non stress-related industrial
  accidents.
• 
  
• Perkins, A. (1994) Harvard Business
  Review. 72(6)12.

13
Costs of Workplace Stress

• "A landmark 20-year study conducted by the
  University of London concluded that unmanaged
  reactions to stress were a more dangerous risk
  factor for cancer and heart disease than either
  cigarette smoking or high cholesterol foods."
• Cryer, B. (1996). Neutralizing
  Workplace Stress The Physiology of Human
  Performance and Organizational
  Effectiveness. presented at Psychological
  Disabilities in the Workplace, The Centre
  for Professional Learning, Toronto, CA..

14
What Can Be Done About Workplace Stress?

• Approaches to Reducing Stress in the Workplace

15
A Comprehensive Approach

• Stress Management Program
• Organizational Change
• A Healthy Workplace

16
Stress Management Programs Can Include

• Stress management techniques training
• Conflict resolution/management training
• Communication/giving feedback training
• Self-care strategies (wellness, fitness,
  nutrition)
• Healthy work/life balance strategies
• Identify overly stressed workers and refer to
  Employee Assistance Programs or counseling.

17
Some examples for Organizational Change could
include

• Examine policies, procedures and practices that
  impact worker choice and value the individual
  worker.
• Ensure the workload is in line with workers
  capabilities and resources.
• Change job design to reflect meaningful work and
  to provide intellectual stimulation.
• Clearly define workers roles and
  responsibilities.
• Work to constantly improve corporate
  communications.
• Work to insure that schedules and deadlines are
  compatible, not in conflict.
• Recognize employees for good work performance.
• Provide opportunities for career development.
• Ensure management actions are consistent with
  organizational values.

18

• A healthy workplace has low rates of illness,
  injury and disability in its workforce and is
  also competitive in the marketplace.
• What are the issues and concerns for your
  workplace?

19
Stress Management Skills

• 1. Take care of yourself.
• 2. Ask for help and build support networks.
• 3. Learn and practice relaxation.

20
Much of our stress is based on our beliefs and
the stories we tell ourselves.

• Beliefs gt
• Thoughts gt
• Feelings gt
• Behaviors gt
• Experience
  gt
• which reinforce our beliefs..
• and continues the cycle.
  

21
Values, Beliefs and Behaviors

• Whenever our values, beliefs and behaviors are
  not in alignment, we are in conflict which
  creates stress.

22
Benefits of the Complete Breath

• Relaxes the body and calms the mind.
• Revitalizes the entire system.
• Brings oxygen to the farthest reaches of the
  lungs that do not usually receive a fresh supply
  of oxygen and energy due to habitual shallow
  breathing.
• Breaks down the old habit of shallow breathing
  and reestablishes a new habit of deep breathing
  and relaxation.
• Gives the abdominal organs a gentle massage with
  the rising and falling abdominal muscles.
• Improves digestion and elimination. Helps to
  relieve constipation.
• Very soothing during menstruation, especially
  when there is discomfort.
• Can be practiced during relaxation, meditation
  and throughout the day at anytime or any where.

23

• Thank you for your presence and your attention
  today. If you would like assistance assessing,
  creating and/or implementing a comprehensive
  approach to stress management in your workplace,
  you can reach New Visions at 845 687-2252.
• SMILE, BREATHE and RELAX.