We talk about stress in the workplace when working people, both employees and employers, deal with mental discomfort that is directly related to the requirements that exceed the capabilities of the working person.
Causes of stress in the workplace:
• requirements at work exceed the capabilities of the working person, their competences and skills,
• work below the capacity and qualifications, performing monotonous, repetitive tasks,
• the need to make decisions with significant consequences, including financial ones,
• responsibility for a group of people, resolving disputes and conflicts,
• overloading with workload, tasks performed to tight deadlines
• no help from other people at work, no cooperation
• psychological abuse, harassment by co-workers or superiors, mobbing, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule
• discrimination on the grounds of race, religion and sexual orientation
• low mental resistance to stress factors
• not coping with challenges and new tasks
• working environment, e.g. working in excess of factors harmful to health or storing flammable, toxic or explosive materials in the workplace
When the above factors affect a person in a continuous and permanent manner, the problems increase and stress is constantly growing. If a person is in a state of constant tension and agitation, the internal systems of the body remain in a state of tension at the same time, which can cause negative health consequences. Depending on the level of stress, a person may also experience various types of anxiety states, disorders of the objective assessment of the situation, anger, frustration. Such a long-term condition can cause loss of strength, headaches, joint aches and other somatic diseases. Eating disorders, fainting and even depression may occur. As a consequence, the work efficiency of such a person drops significantly.
Work-related stress is not a disease in itself, but prolonged exposure to stressful situations may result in deterioration of health and falling into various diseases.
Each person reacts differently to given situations and experiences exposure to certain stimuli and factors differently. For one person, certain situations may be stressful, for another person they may not be stressful at all. Having inborn features of temperament, personality, as well as appropriate knowledge and professional skills but also support in co-workers and superiors, reduces the level of stress and does not affect a person as much as it does other people.
Health Effects of Stress:
• osteoarticular pain, spine, shoulder, neck,
• general reduction of the body's resistance and frequent incidence of viral and bacterial infections, also an increased risk of cancer
• diseases of the digestive system (diseases of the intestines, gastrointestinal tract)
• heart disease (coronary artery disease, heart attack)
• mental illnesses (depression, anxiety)
• falling into addictions (alcoholism, cigarettes, designer drugs, psychoactive substances)
Economic effects of stress:
• lower work efficiency,
• more frequent mistakes, errors related to lower ability to focus,
• burnout, lack of willingness to work,
• lack of development activities for the company and a general lack of interest in business affairs for the benefit of the employer,
• more frequent sick leave related to lower immunity and more frequent somatic and health problems,
• being injured at work due to reduced concentration,
• job resignation.