1. Stress Management

2. I/O Psychology in My Life
Free Write
Describe a job in which you were very stressed.
What caused the stress?
What did you do to reduce the stress?

3. Stress Terms Stress Stressor Strain
The psychological and physical reaction to certain life events or situations.
Stressor
The life event that causes stress
Strain
The consequences of stress

4. Types of Stress Eustress Distress Stress converted to positive energy
Desirable outcome of stress
Motivational results
Optimal level of arousal
Distress
Negative outcome
Results in emotional and physical illness

5. Can stress be a good thing?
Let's Talk
Can stress be a good thing?

6. Predisposition to Stress
Stress Personalities
Type A vs. Type B
Pessimists vs. Optimists
Neuroticism
Gender, Ethnicity, Race
Stress Sensitization

7. Your Stress Personality Exercises 15.1 & 15.2

8. Sources of Stress Personal Stressors
Fear
Resistance
Resentment

9. Sources of Stress Occupational Stressors
Job Characteristics
Role conflict
Role ambiguity
Role overload
Organizational Characteristics
Person/organization fit
Change
Relations with others
Organizational politics

10. Correlates of Employee Stress Antecedents
Corrected Correlation
Meta-Analysis
Organizational Politics
.45
Miller et al. (2008)
Job Insecurity
.19
Sverke et al. (2002)
Lack of Fit
Person-job
.28
Kristof-Brown et al. (2005)
Person-organization
.27
Lack of Support
Coworkers
.18
Viswesvaran et al. (1999)
Supervisors
.24

11. Sources of Stress Physical Work Environment
Noise
Temperature
Work schedule

12. Noise

13. Important Noise Factors
Most Disruptive
Least Disruptive
High frequency
Low frequency
Unpleasant
Pleasant
Intermittent
Continuous
Unnecessary
Necessary
Unpredictable
Predictable
Unfamiliar
Familiar
Person is noise sensitive
Person is not noise sensitive

14. Effects of Noise on Health
Hearing loss
Increased blood pressure
More frequent illness

15. Effects of Noise on Performance
Affects quality more than quantity
Decreased performance on cognitive tasks
Decreased job satisfaction

16. Effects of Noise on Behavior
Narrowed focus
Lower altruism
Decreased eye contact
Increased rate of walking

17. Effects of Noise at Different Levels
Source of Noise
Decibels
Effect
Rocket launch
180
Jet takeoff
130
Brief exposure can cause deafness
Riveting machine
115
Maximum legal exposure
Textile weaving plant
100
Blood pressure increases
Food blender 95
Cognitive performance drops
Employees report more illness
Angry people increase aggressiveness
City traffic 90
Legal acceptable noise limit for 8-hour day
Noisy restaurant 70
Telephone use is difficult

18. Hours of Exposure Maximum Decibels
OSHA Noise Limits
Hours of Exposure Maximum Decibels
(city traffic)
(food blender)
1/ (lawn mower)
1/ (riveting machine)
120 (disco)
130 (jet takeoff)

19. Reducing Noise Legal limits to noise exposure
Change the environment (e.g., carpet, acoustic tiles)
Reduce noise reaching employee (e.g., ear plugs)
Reduce noise emitted

20. Temperature

21. Temperature Body reduces heat by Body increases heat by
radiation
evaporation
Body increases heat by
constricting blood vessels
Effective temperature
air temperature
humidity
airflow
temperature of objects in the environment

22. Effects of Temperature
Depend on
temperature
task type
workload
amount of exposure
rest periods

23. Work Schedules

24. Shift Work 25% of employees work evening or night shifts
Shift work can disrupt circadian rhythm
Factors affecting impact of shift work
Uniqueness of shift
Fixed versus rotating shift
Frequency of rotation
Direction of the rotation
Individual differences (chronotype)
Night people
Morning people

25. Sources of Stress Other Sources
Minor frustration
Forecasting
Residual

26. Consequences of Stress Organizational
Job performance (curvilinear relationship)
Burnout
Absenteeism
Turnover
Drug/alcohol abuse
Health care costs

27. Signs of Burnout Less energy Lower productivity Being late to work
Complaining and negativity
Decreased concentration
Forgetfulness
Apathy
Dread coming to work
Feeling overwhelmed
Tension and frustration
Feelings of little impact on coworkers or the organization

28. Correlates of Employee Stress Consequences
Corrected Correlation
Meta-Analysis
Job Performance
- .13
Miller et al. (2008)
Turnover
Actual
.13
Kristof-Brown et al. (2005)
Intended
.41
OCBs
- .16
Job Satisfaction
- .34
Viswesvaran et al. (1999)
Commitment
- .31

29. Consequences of Stress Personal
Psychological
Depression
Anxiety
Anger
Sleep problems
Physical
Illness
Headaches
Joint pain
Behaviors
Smoking
Drinking
Drug abuse

30. Managing Stress Planning for Stress
Exercise
Laughter
Diet
Smoking reduction
Sleep
Support groups
Self-empowerment
Coping skills

31. Lifestyle Questionnaire Exercise 15.3

32. Self-Empowerment Exercise 15.4

33. Managing Stress During and After Stress
Relaxation techniques
Abdominal breathing
Progressive muscle relaxation
Meditation
Time management

34. Life/Work Interventions Assist With Child Care
Why the Concern?
40% of employees have children
Lack of child care results in 8 more days of absenteeism
Organizational Strategies (SHRM, 2014)
Allow employee to bring child to work in emergency (26%)
Provide referral service (10%)
Subsidize cost of child care (3%)
Provide on-site child care facility (<1%)

35. Life/Work Interventions Assist With Elder Care
Why the Concern?
33% of employees provide elder care
50% of employees missed work, were late, or quit their jobs due to elder care responsibilities
Organizational Strategies (SHRM, 2014)
Provide referral service (11%)
Provide emergency elder care (<1%)

36. Life/Work Interventions Provide Alternative Work Schedules
Percent Offering
Flextime 52
Compressed work week 29
Job sharing 9
Source: SHRM 2014 Benefits Survey

37. Life/Work Interventions Wellness Programs
Percent Offering
Wellness information 79
EAP 74
Health screening 47
Smoking cessation program 42
Subsidize fitness center dues 34
Weight loss programs 32
Source: SHRM 2014 Benefits Survey

38. Life/Work Interventions Assist with Daily Chores
Company Benefit
Percent Offering
Legal assistance 21
Dry cleaning 9
Concierge service 3
Provide take-home meals 2
Source: SHRM 2014 Benefits Survey

39. What should organizations do to reduce stress?
Let's Talk
What should organizations do to reduce stress?

40. Workplace Violence

41. Workplace Violence Statistics Types of Workplace Violence
Homicide reason for 12% of workplace fatalities
1% of employees annually victims of workplace violence
Rate of workplace violence has been declining since 1993
Types of Workplace Violence
Homicides during commission of a crime (70%)
Homicide of a law enforcement officer (19%)
Acts of vengeance against employee (11%)
Committed by current employee (44%)
Former employees (23%)
Domestic violence (21%)
Other (12%)

42. Workplace Violence Perpetrators
Male (80%)
years of age (usually in his 40s)
Self-esteem tied to job
Feels there is no other way of resolving his mistreatment other than violence
Demonstrated a recent pattern of problems at work
Has recently tried to get others to take his dilemma seriously by threatening, yelling, etc.
Has begun showing signs of paranoid thinking
Has become isolated and withdrawn
Has ready access to guns

43. Reducing Workplace Violence
Security measures
Better employee screening methods
Increased management awareness

44. What should a manager if she believes an employee is dangerous?
Let's Talk
What should a manager if she believes an employee is dangerous?

45. Putting it all Together
Applied Case Study: Reducing Stress

46. Does the organization have an obligation to reduce stress?
Let's Talk
Focus on Ethics
Does the organization have an obligation to reduce stress?

47. What Do You Think?
Do you think companies have an ethical responsibility to offer solutions for employees that will help reduce stress?
Do you think companies are to blame for the high stress levels in the workplace?
What are some things that companies can offer or do for their employees?
Do you think employees have any responsibility for ensuring they stay healthy under stressful conditions?
If so, what are some things that employees can do for themselves?