1. Occupational Stress

2. Multi-faceted Look at Occupational Stress
Occupational Stress Evaluation Grid (Page 303) recognizes that occupational stress occurs in seven different contexts:
Sociocultural
Organizational
Work setting
Interpersonal
Psychological
Biological
Physical/ Environmental

3. Why Is Occupational Stress of Concern?
Cost to businesses was >$200 billion/year, (Swoboda, 1992); probably much more now
Employees “always on call” concept
Leads to increased sick days, drug or alcohol abuse, and early death
Can promote high turnover rates of employees
Liability (i.e., workers’ compensation, disability, or litigation)

4. Did You Know?
Absences attributed to stress tripled between 1995 and 2004
Almost 75% of the time when workers called in “sick,” they were not really “sick”
Most heart attacks occur on Monday’s and least occurred on Friday’s

5. Burnout
Adverse stress reaction to work with psychological, psychophysiological, and behavioral components
Symptoms include:
Diminished sense of humor
Skipping rest and meals
Increased overtime/no vacation
Increased physical complaints
Social withdrawal
Changed job performance
Self-medication
Internal changes

6. Five Stages of Burnout Stage 1: The honeymoon Stage 2: Fuel shortage
Stage 3: Chronic symptoms
Stage 4: Crisis
Stage 5: Hitting the wall

7. University College, London Study
Just thinking about work may trigger stress, says Dr. Andrew Steptoe
Study of 75 men and women
Showed steeper increases in the hormone ‘cortisol’ on workday mornings than on days off
Occurred within 30 minutes of work, showing anticipation of work may trigger job-related stress

8. Job Stressors Money Health and safety hazards Work environment
Insufficient training
Job security
Family adjustments or partner’s career
Violence

9. The only job security in the world is to be more talented tomorrow than you are today.