November 2021
Studies show that more than half of the workforce in North America suffer from work-related stress, more than 60% of the time.
This means that if you work 40 hours on any given week, you are under work-related stress for 24 hours. This adds up to more than 1,000 hours of stress per year.
Stress occurs in a wide range of work circumstances but is often made worse when employees feel they have little support from supervisors and colleagues and, of course, there are several levels of stress. Some of it might be good stress as it may act as a motivational factor. But more often than not, the level of stress caused by work performance pressures is not healthy.
The WHO (World Health Organisation) goes on to say that “Work-related stress can be caused by poor work organization (the way we design jobs and work systems, and the way we manage them), by poor work design (for example, lack of control over work processes), poor management, unsatisfactory working conditions and lack of support from colleagues and supervisors.”
Studies further demonstrate that causes of work-related stress include long hours, heavy workload, job insecurity, conflicts with co-workers or bosses and lack of support from their employer.
So what is so bad about work-related stress? Why should you worry about it?
Well, one can experience the effect of stress in different ways. On the physical level, some of the symptoms include, but are not limited to:
And on the psychological level, stress can have these unpleasant symptoms:
The number one advice I can give you on how to deal with ANY type of stress is to start by recognizing it. Stress is not like having a broken leg or a strong headache. It is often a condition that is lurking in the shadows. You will experience some of the symptoms and may not know what is causing them. Identifying the cause is the first step in winning the battle.
Then, one needs to be open and vocal bout it. As your behaviour may be altered, it is important to have a discussion with the people surrounding you about the possibility that you may overreact or, react differently than your usual self.
In most cases, the cause of stress will not go away on its own. You will need to take some steps in order to confront the situation and make it better. An open and honest discussion with your boss/supervisor/human resources person/etc is a good place to start. Remember that you do not want to take the “accusation” road and pinpoint all the things that the boss/organization/college are doing wrong. Instead, take the following approach. Lead the discussion with the “I” statement, such as:
Meanwhile, there are easy options that will help you cope with the adverse effects of stress. Exercising, on a regular basis, has shown excellent results. Meditation, yoga and breathwork, the discipline of breathing consciously and purposely, are also excellent to alleviate the discomfort of the stress-related symptoms,
Be on the lookout for fast and easy “remedies” to alleviate the pain caused by stress. Reverting to alcohol & drugs abuse in order to get a rest, an escape from the reality of the stressful situation is a dangerous option, believe me. And once again, statistic shows that more adults, young and older, are reverting to alcohol and drug consumption as a way to escape their own reality. I’ve been down that road so I can tell you that although it seems to work for a short while, the side effects of such options will only compound the symptoms on your mind and body. And that is without mentioning the financial, physical and mental impact that such abuse will have on you. And to top it all, some of these bad habits are very difficult to beat.
I will say this with all the warnings and disclaimers that I possibly can. I am not suggesting that you take ANY drastic measures before having tried to resolve and alleviate the source of your work-related stress… but, as far as I am concerned, you should NEVER accept a situation that puts your health, be it physical or emotional, at risk. The long-term effects of stress can be devastating.
Take me for example. I have evolved in an extremely unhealthy work environment where pressure, performance and disrespect were daily. And even with all my 28 years of experience in the field, I could not cope with the situation. The results ?
I used alcohol and drugs to cope with my downwards spiralling emotional state. Evenings and weekends were meant to get wasted and to forget my reality. After a year of self-inflicted therapy, both my physical and mental health took the hit. I was diagnosed with extreme high blood pressure (180 over 100) and with depression. Needed to get on medications to deal with both conditions.
And as there was no relief in sight in my workplace, my only option, the option that saved my life, was to resign from this unhealthy job and explore other professional possibilities. For me, no job or amount of money is high enough to risk my health. Never. I have never looked back and most importantly, I never had any regrets. In fact, this chain of events showed me how important your health is, especially as you progress in the afternoon and early evening of your life.
I now live my best life, living in Bali, Indonesia since 2019, and I am rediscovering myself on a daily basis. Here, I have learnt the importance of health, my own health, and I thrive to be on the path of the best version of myself. A daily quest that finds me discovering and learning amazing possibilities.
Still, it took me two years of medications, soul searching and mental fog to get over this dip. Only with the help of regular exercise, meditation, yoga, healthy eating and living habits did I take control of my life, lose 75 pounds (36kg) and got off all medications.
I am saddened when I speak to people around me that are confronted with unhealthy work situations, with leaders/bosses/colleges that are not recognizing the impact of their bullying behaviour. It reminds me of my own situation and it makes me both sad and angry.
There are ample researches and statistics that demonstrate the negative impact of stressed-out employees on productivity, sick leave levels, work engagement, etc. The fact that in 2021, so many employers are still ignoring or refusing to deal with this issue is mind-boggling.
One can only hope that we will all live in a better society and enjoy our healthy lives longer by being vocal about it and exposing the perverse effect of work-related stress.
Should you wish to find out more about this subject or, share your own experience, do not hesitate to contact me or, leave a comment below. I am always thrilled to explore this subject further and share my knowledge and experience.
©Pierre-Bourbonnais 2024
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