Lesson 10 Workplace Stress

Video Stress in the workplace

Learning Objectives To understand how aspects of the working environment can be experienced as a stressor and cause a stress reaction in the body. Success Criteria 1. Complete page of your booklet, and be able to distinguish between workload and control. 2. Evaluate workplace stressors. 3. Create a set of revision dominoes for the workplace stress topic.  Challenge Criteria  Complete a practice question on workplace stress, applying your knowledge from today’s lesson.

Workplace stress Workplace stressors were first investigated in the 1970s. It was reported that some jobs are more stressful than others. A report in 1996 found that some people believed that adverse working conditions influenced their health. It depends on how the individual perceives the demands of the stressful situation as to how they react and cope with it. Some commonly reported stressful condition are: Physical stressors: noise and length of working day Psychosocial stressors: relationships with co-workers and role responsibility

Research on workplace stressors 1. You need to complete page 15 of your booklet – the research by Marmot et al (1997). In the ‘findings’ box you need to write two sets of results; one for workload and one for control. 2. On a post-it note consider the criticisms of Marmot et al’s research. 3. Finally, complete the study by Johansson et al (1978) at the bottom of page 15. This study should be labelled ‘workload’.

On page 16 you will find some evaluation points for workplace stress. Read these notes now. Answer any evaluation questions. You will be given a set of cards shaped like dominoes. On one half of the domino you should write a question, on the other half you should write the answer to a different question. You should then write the question for the first answer and so on. You will end up with some ‘workplace stress’ dominoes which are excellent for revision! Dominoes Task

Challenge Brett and Sahil both work for the same company and have been talking about recent changes at work. Brett said that his pay is now dependent on other people’s performance and that his department has introduced tighter deadlines and more rigid working hours. Since these changes were made, he has had more days off sick and is concerned that his health is beginning to suffer. There have been no changes in Sahil’s department and he said that he hardly ever takes days off sick. Explain why Brett might have been affected by the changes in his department. Refer to psychological research into workplace stress in your answer. (6 marks)

Mark scheme AO2 = 6 marks The stem suggests several aspects of the workplace that could be responsible for Brett’s days off. He might be affected by a lack of control in his environment, having to keep to tight deadlines, the fact that his pay is dependent on the performance of his colleagues. Candidates do not have to refer to all these factors, but they do need to show some engagement with the stem in their answer. They also must refer to psychological research into workplace stress. Answers that merely show knowledge of relevant aspects of research, up to 3 marks. Answers that merely engage with stem but do not provide relevant research, up to 3 marks. Answers that make no reference to relevant aspects of research and also no engagement with the stem, 0 marks. Candidates do not have to refer to specific studies but what research has shown is creditworthy. There are several studies that could be used to illustrate Brett’s behaviour, Johannson et al; Marmot et al; Van der Doef & Maes; credit should be given to any relevant study ie one explicitly looking at stress in the workplace. Candidates could also include factors about stress and personality, but for top bands they must shape their answer to workplace stress.