Stress

In America today stress on the job is a major concern. According to the U.S Department of Labor, the workplace is the greatest single source of stress. The New York based American Institute of Stress reports that as many 75 to 90 percent of visits to physicians are related to stress. (American Institute of Stress) When people are stressed out at work they begin to use a lot of their vacation, sick and personal time. An estimated one million workers are absent every day due to stress. Someone stressed at work finds it hard to face another day in a stressful environment.

A 1999 government report found that the number of hours worked increased 8% in one generation to an average 47 hours per week and with 20% working 49 hours per week. U.S. workers put in more hours on the job than the labor force of any other industrial nation. Other industrial nations are in fact working fewer hours per week. Americans work almost a month more than the Japanese and three months more than Germans. Americans are also working harder, many feel that their workplace is like a real life “Survivor” program. (American Institute of Stress)

Job insecurity is another stress factor. A 1999 government study reported more jobs had been lost in the previous year than any other year in the last half century. (American Institute of Stress) Workers are fearful of losing their jobs. In past five years Americans have seen massive layoffs due to downsizing, companies filing bankruptcies, and an all time high unemployment rate.

Know one is exempt from stress at work; the key is managing it and recognizing the warning signs. There are many physical, emotional, mental and social warning signs a person experiences when they are under stress. If a person is able to recognize the major symptoms of stress, they will associate situations in their life with specific stress symptoms and then learn better coping stratigies for those situations. (Mind in Manchester)

The following are a few physical, emotional, mental and social symptoms of stress:

· Muscular Tension, Fatigue

· Headaches, Backache

· Low Productivity, Lethargy

· Loneliness, Nagging

· Irritability, Anxiety

There are many things a person can due to reduce the symptoms of stress at their job. For instance time management can greatly reduce stress. You can go about managing your time better