Are You Depressed Because of Workplace Stress?

If you're reading this article, chances are you are experiencing workplace stress, right?  There's also a good chance that your workplace stress have reached a certain level where you sometimes (if not all the time) feel depressed.

You are not alone.  All of us, at one time or another, have experienced workplace stress.  But how do you know that you are stressed?  More importantly, how do you know that you are depressed?


Aft.org have listed down physical and psychological signs that workplace stress (and other stressors) are getting to you:

Physical warning signs are:

• "headaches
• stomach problems
• over/undereating
• sleep disturbances
• muscle aches and pains
• skin rashes
• teeth grinding"*

Sound familiar?  Here's more:

Psychological warning signs include:

• "forgetfulness
• anger
• frustration
• anxiety
• depression
• irritability
• feeling powerless"*

Are you starting to see...you?

 Well, now let's see how serious your workplace stress is.  Is your workplace stress serious enough to cause depression?  How do you know that you are already a candidate for depression?

• Are you demotivated?  Do you hate waking up in the morning to go to work?  Do you have to force yourself, push yourself to get dressed and go to the office?  Are you losing interest on things you used to enjoy?
• Have you lost energy?  Are you tired most of the time?  Do you feel weak as if fatigue have taken over you? Don't you have energy, even if you just woke up?
• Have you become unproductive?  Is your to-do list getting longer and longer and you feel you have not accomplished anything at the end of each day?
• Do you procrastinate?  Do you find yourself putting off important tasks at an increasing rate?
• Are you feeling less and less confident about yourself?  Even feeling worthless at times?
• Do you withdraw from people?  Do you avoid relationships, wanting to be "alone" most of the time?

Workplace stress is one of life's realities.  Everyone get's stressed, especially at work.  It's either the demands are too much or your expectations are not being met.  Either way, if left unchecked, workplace stress can cause depression.  Start managing your workplace stress by acknowledging how stressed you are.  Then, start doing something about it before you get really depressed.
   
Sources:
* http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1137195340877175320#editor/target=post;postID=3832277600063123055
**http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/mental_health/articles/how_to_keep_depression_from_wrecking_work.aspx

Are you in danger of "Karo-shi"

Fight stress, stay healthy
By Lisa Hansen
Posted: 03/23/2011 11:30:46 AM PDT

http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/business/ci_17682522

The Japanese concept of "Karo-shi" can almost literally be translated as "death from overwork." The term first came into common usage in Japan during the 1980s after rising concern following the sudden death of several high-ranking business men who showed no signs of previous health issues. "Karo¯shi" has been attributed to a wide variety of stress-related medical issues, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke, to name a few.

There have been extensive studies on the effects of stress on a workforce's overall health and well being. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), 54% of workers are concerned about health problems due to stress. And, Express Employment Professionals' recent Hiring Trends survey showed that 88% of company leaders say their current work stress is as high or higher than last year. It's a serious problem that companies and their employees are being forced to address.

So, how do you reduce workplace stress? There are a wide variety of techniques and countless books about eliminating stress in your life. But, the first and most important step is to know the warning signs of stress, which can vary between individuals. In a recent APA study, some of the most common indicators of excessive stress included fatigue, irritability, lack of interest or motivation, head and stomach aches, and insomnia. So it's important to find a stress reducing activity that best fits your symptoms and lifestyle to help eliminate tension and keep you healthy and happy.

Take short breaks

The human body wasn't made to sit in one position and stare at a computer screen for eight hours a day. Make it a point to stand up and take a quick walk around the office every hour or two. Go grab a small, healthy snack. Say hello to a coworker. Or simply just stand up at your desk and stretch. Find a quick and simple activity you can do throughout the day to get your body moving and break up the monotony. Make simple lifestyle changes

Get some exercise

Exercise can do wonders for your stress and anxiety levels. Just a half-hour a day a few times a week can make a huge difference in your stress level. The important part is finding an activity you enjoy so you don't think of it as something you have to do. Whether it's as simple as a walk through a local park, swimming laps at the gym, or taking a yoga class, a little bit of activity can go a long way.

Use your vacation time

If you have vacation time, don't be afraid to use it. Taking a few days here and there to escape the daily grind of the work week is one of the best ways to recharge your mind and body. If you're a leader at your company, it's also important to keep a close eye on the overall stress levels of your employees. When you do notice a spike in stress, act quickly. There are a variety of tactics you can use to help ease some of the tension. You just need to be aware and understand what causes the build up in stress and then act accordingly.

Some examples of changes you can make on an organizational level to reduce stress could include:

- Redistribute employee workloads or hire new full-time or temporary workers to help take some of the burden off your current employees' shoulders.

- Provide opportunities for fun and bonding outside of work.

- Open the lines of communication to be sure your employees understand their jobs and why they are important.

- Allow your employees to participate in discussions and decision making that affect the business.

- Help your employees define development goals to help guide their careers in the right direction.

The impact of stress on health and well being can be profound and indiscriminate. Employees at all levels are prone to developing stress-related illnesses, and those who choose to deal with the issue head on are the ones who stand the best chance of overcoming it.

---------

Lisa Hansen is the owner of Express Employment Professionals, 243 S. Main St. in Red Bluff. The Red Bluff office, at 243 S. Main St., is taking applications. Businesses seeking employees may call 527-0727 or visit the Express website at www.expresspros.com.
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MY THOUGHTS

The trick is in recognizing the early signs of work stress and doing something about it immediately.  Work stress becomes harder and harder to deal with as it becomes more serious. 

WAYS TO RELAX AT WORK

Stress Management: 5 Ways to Relax at Work
By Amy Levin-Epstein | Mar 31, 2011

Almost by definition, work is stressful — that’s why God (and/or HR) created vacation days. And these days, workplace anxiety is being felt at record high rates. “People, no matter what income levels, are feeling pinched,” says relaxation expert Darren Zeer, who has worked with companies like Maidenform and Del Monte Foods to ease employee stress. “Between the bad economy, smaller staffs and employment insecurity, it’s a brutal combination.”

From crazy clients to time-consuming conference calls, it’s easy to get worked up at work.  Here are some great tips that will help you instantly feel better on the job, so you’ll be healthier and more productive:

Sip Chamomile Tea

A coffee break might put a pep in your step, but herbal tea will keep you calmer - and chamomile extract, in particular, has been shown to reduce anxiety. Bonus points if you take a quick walk to the corner deli to pick it up while getting some fresh air.

Clear Out Clutter

How clean is your desk? An organized workspace can keep you focused. “Having a clutter-free workspace means there’s no stress hunting down needed items, so time is spent more productively,” says professional organizer Sally Allen, CEO of A Place for Everything. Her advice: Keep the things you work on daily on top of your desk, the things you work on weekly in your desk, and the things you work on monthly around your desk. Everything else? Toss it.

Do a Desk Stretch

You can treat tension instantly with office yoga — but no need to go straight into Downward-Facing Dog. Zeer says a client favorite is his “Kick-back Log-on Pose.” To try:  Interlace your fingers behind your head. Relax your elbows and shoulders. Smile, breathe, and stretch your elbows back.  Let the tightness release slowly, and repeat throughout the day.

Feng Shui Your Bag or Briefcase

At a meeting and looking for your notes? If your bag is filled with old receipts, wrappers and other refuse, you are more likely to get distracted and make mistakes — and that’s certainly stressful. It’s time to start thinking of your purse or briefcase as a field bag, says Zeer: “Make sure you are well equipped for your meetings, and have your briefcase fully stocked with extra cell-phone batteries, a snack, and water. Empty out old material that is not needed,” he says. Another way to stay relaxed and motivated? “On the inside of your briefcase you can tape a picture of loved ones or an inspiring message for reassurance on the road,” he says.

Watch a Silly YouTube Video

Remember when The Office’s Michael Scott called himself the “King of Forwards”? That might actually have been good business sense, say some experts. Laughter — like the kind that comes after watching a dog skateboarding on YouTube — can improve mood and immune function and even lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, according to researchers from Loma Linda University. “Go online and look up jokes for a minute or two. This allows for a change in your physiology,” says study author Lee Berk, DrPH.

Have any other suggestions on lowering office stress? Please sign in below and share. And for more career advice, follow @MWOnTheJob on Twitter.

MY THOUGHTS

I am vouching for all these tips. They all work.  A quick coffee break can help me relax but I agree that chamomile tea is a better choice.  Walking around the block also does the trick for me.  Knowing where everything is (almost everything, anyway) is a great time management tool.  And the more successful you are in managing your time, the less stressed you would be.  The best de-stressor, of course, is having a good laugh.  Alone or with others-it really doesn't matter.  What's important is you laugh your problems off without forgetting that the problems need to be dealt with. 

SHOULDER AND NECK PAIN SOLUTIONS

The Computer Hunch: Shoulder and Neck Pain Solutions
By Gretchen Reynolds
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the April 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

Have long hours spent slumped over your computer turned you into the office hunchback? Here's how to work out the kinks.

Amy Markham was once an endurance athlete, running marathons and cycling long distances. Then, at the age of 37, she took a new job as director of admissions at a small liberal arts college in Massachusetts. Her new sport was hunching over her keyboard. At first the pain barely registered, but the tension in her neck and shoulders eventually became so severe that it was sometimes impossible to turn her head, shrug on clothes, or even type. While Markham's pain was extreme, the circumstances that led to it are not uncommon.

As many as 63 percent of all office workers will suffer from neck pain sometime this year, with women at particular risk, according to a recent comprehensive review of neck pain studies. Poor posture is partly to blame; the ever-increasing dependence on computers doesn't help, either. Happily, some relatively simple exercises can help.

5 moves that reduce neck pain and increase neck strength

A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that the five moves below dramatically reduced neck pain and increased neck strength in female office workers. For the best results, complete at least three sessions a week. (A session consists of three sets of three of the moves listed here; for each set, repeat the exercise ten to 12 times.)

1. Shoulder Shrug
Stand, holding a pair of two-pound dumbbells at your sides. Keeping your neck straight, slowly lift up your shoulders toward your ears and lower them again. Repeat.

2. One-Arm Row
With a dumbbell in your left hand, stand at the left side of a knee-high workout bench. Set your right knee on the bench and bend at the waist, setting your right palm on the front of the bench for balance. Your left arm should be straight, palm facing in, with the weight hanging toward the ground. Slowly pull up the weight toward your chest, then gently lower and repeat. Switch sides and repeat with the opposite arm.

3. Upright Row
Stand holding a weight in each hand, resting the weights on your thighs, palms facing your body. Bending at the elbows, slowly lift up the dumbbells to chest height (your elbows should point slightly up, not straight out to either side). Keep the weights close to your body and your neck relaxed and straight. Lower gently and repeat.

4. Reverse Fly
Reposition your bench so it's at a 45-degree angle to the floor. With a weight in each hand, straddle the seat and press your chest against the raised end of the bench. Extend your arms toward the floor, palms facing in. Keeping your elbows slightly bent, extend the weights out to your sides until your arms are parallel to the floor. Slowly lower and repeat.

5. Shoulder Abduction
Stand holding the weights at your sides, pressed against your thighs. With your elbows slightly bent, extend the weights out to your sides until your arms are parallel to the floor, palms down. Keep your neck straight and relaxed. In a smooth motion, lower and repeat.

Create a perfect workstation for mind and body.

MY THOUGHTS

something to plan for. i have the perennial neck and back problems because of working 8-12 hours a day. meaning,i have the computer hunch syndrome. massage works short term. you start working and in a day or two the pain's back. hope this exercises help.

SIGNS THAT YOUR JOB IS TOO MUCH FOR YOU

7 Signs You're in Over Your Head
By Steve Tobak | January 21, 2011

Nobody wants to believe they’re the problem. Why that is, I don’t know. But it’s far and away the stickiest issue that plagues organizations big and small. That’s why it keeps coming up again and again here.

In last year’s most clicked post - 7 Signs You May Be a Bad Manager - we talked about how most bad managers aren’t consciously aware that they are bad managers. That was news to a lot of people.

It seems that, while we talk about denial all the time, we don’t really understand what it means: that, on some level, we are aware of our behavior and our issues; we’re just not consciously aware. That requires a measure of self-awareness few of us possess.

As I alluded to at the time, this phenomenon isn’t at all limited to bosses, but applies to executives, managers, employees too. What that means is that, no matter who you are or what you do, you can be in over your head and not realize it.

As we all know, realizing a problem is the first step to resolving it. But, for those of you who still aren’t convinced that knowing the truth about your level of competency is a good thing, here’s a different way to say it: If you bury your head in the sand, you’ll likely suffocate. How’s that for motivation?

So pay attention to these 7 Signs You’re in Over Your Head

1. You’re more anxious and stressed-out than usual. Why is that a sign? Because, on some level, you’re aware that you’re in over your head and the disconnect between that awareness and the lie you keep consciously telling yourself - and others, in all likelihood - is causing you great anxiety and stress.

2. Goals you thought were reasonable now seem insurmountable. Congratulations, you’ve fallen victim to one of the most common pitfalls in the working world: pedestal thinking. Don’t feel too bad, it’s just god’s sick little gift to overachievers. Just remember that the next time your ego wants to write a check that your capability can’t cash.

3. You’re feeling depressed when you should be feeling fine. You’ve been given a chance, an opportunity to prove yourself, maybe even a promotion. You should be on top of the world … but you’re not. Again, that’s the disconnect talking. And maybe, just maybe, you can’t help but wonder if you haven’t been given just enough rope to hang yourself with.

4. Your schedule is constantly slipping. Maybe your budget, headcount, and capital requirements, too. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. And management’s starting to get really tired of it. Every time they ask, “Is that going to do it,” you say “Absolutely.” But you have no idea if that’s true or not. Dangerous game to play.

5. I can do this has turned into I’m going to do this if it kills me. Well, it probably won’t kill you, but it might set your career back a bit or even get you fired. The point is that there are diminishing returns when it comes to being so driven that you push yourself to do things you’re either not ready for or are not capable of doing. And frankly, nobody wins when you do that. Nobody.

6. You find yourself working even when you’re not … and shouldn’t be. You find yourself thinking about work at all times of the day and night? While you’re eating, sleeping, on weekends, even during sex? Working longer and longer hours but coming home with less and less accomplished? Yup, that’s a sign alright. Been there many times.

7. You’re screwing up … and you’re not a screw up. I know it sounds sort of obvious, but I can remember times when I made excuses for errors in judgment that I probably wouldn’t have made if I wasn’t stretched so thin or pushing the envelope. Why did I do that? I guess I’m not the sort of guy who gives up easily. But again, there comes a point when that can actually work against you.

Once you’ve recognized that you’re in over your head, what do you do about it? In a nutshell, it’s always a good idea to be honest with yourself and face the fact that maybe you need to get some help, i.e. fess up to your boss, ask for more time and resources, that sort of thing.

If you’re a young up-and-comer who’s just pushing the envelope, i.e. no pain no gain, I’d give you a pass for sticking your neck out and taking risks, as long as you learn from the experience and don’t make it a regular thing.

If this is chronic with you, then there’s a distinct possibility that you’ve risen to your level of incompetence, i.e. the Peter Principle. In that case, you might want to read What’s the One Thing Limiting Your Success? and deal with it.

MY THOUGHTS

this can happen. absolutely. you're not good. you're very,very good. in fact, you're excellent. all you past performances can back that up. so, here you are. in a new post. a new assignment. and you just can't hack it. believe, the signs outlined in this article? these are killers. and the more you postpone getting help, the risk that you're setting yourself up for failure gets higher and higher.

Want to Avoid Workplace stressand be more productive? Stop Working

How to Be Productive: Stop Working
By Margaret Heffernan | August 10, 2010

Industrial companies put a lot of effort into “asset integrity” — which really just means protecting critical plants and machinery from damage and wear and tear. At companies like BP, it’s clearly more of an aspiration than a reality, but anyone trained in a manufacturing environment learns that asset integrity is a top priority. But what about service industries — companies where the only assets are the brains of the people who work there? Shouldn’t they worry about asset integrity, too? Astonishingly, most of them don’t. Instead, financial services, consulting, the law and even the medical profession perpetuate working hours where all-nighters are heroic, driving with jet lag is the norm and anyone who actually has lunch risks becoming lunch.

But, they argue, we’re in the midst of an economic downturn, the worst recession in our lifetimes. Shouldn’t we all be working as hard as we can? Who has the luxury of time? What do you mean weekends aren’t for working?

Well, for the last 100 years, every productivity study in every industry has come to the same conclusion: after about 40 hours in a week, the quality of your work starts to degrade. You make mistakes. That’s why working 60 hours may not save you time or money: you’ll spend too much of that time fixing the mistakes you shouldn’t have made in the meantime. That’s why software companies that limit work to 35 hours a week need to employ fewer QA engineers: there isn’t as much mess to clean up.

In a knowledge economy, where thinking and creativity are the raw materials from which products and profit flow, brains are assets. They need to be cherished, nurtured and protected, not abused. Leaders need to take seriously a century’s evidence that 1) overwork doesn’t make us productive, it makes us stupid, 2) looking away from a problem is often the best way to solve it, and 3) burnout is what happens when people are asked to work in ways that obliterate all other parts of their lives.

Also: we need to hammer the last nail into the coffin of multi-tasking. No, you can’t safely drive and hold conference calls, nor can you text while driving. And checking emails while in meetings means you may as well not be there. What modern businesses need isn’t distracted Blackberry addicts but human beings who haven’t forgotten the gifts of focus, concentration and mindfulness.

When the cognitive scientist Dan Simons looked at the vast mountain of evidence that demonstrates the futility of multitasking, he was inevitably asked whether there were anything we could do to enlarge the capacity of our minds. The answer was an emphatic “no.” There are hard limits to what our brains will do, and no amount of Baby Mozarts or Brain Trainers will alter that. Practice, Simons says, will improve specific skills but not general abilities. Doing Sudoko will make you better at Sudoko; it won’t raise your GMAT scores.

Is there anything that truly enhances cognition? Yes, says Simons: exercise. Experiments by his colleague Arthur Kramer showed that walking for a few hours a week led to large improvements on cognitive tasks. Stretching and toning exercises had no cognitive benefits, but aerobic exercise, which increases blood flow to the brain, did. Seniors who walked for just 45 minutes a day for three days a week showed better preservation of their brains in MRI scans. Exercise, Simons concludes, improves cognition broadly by increasing the fitness of your brain.

Care about asset integrity? Get out of the office and go for a walk. And make sure the people who work for you do, too.

MY THOUGHTS

the short but brisk walking helps. i walk around the block sometimes if i need to work well into the night. clears the brain, relaxes the muscles and makes me more productive.

workplace stress? find out if you have a good job

Do you have a good job? Take the test

Today's job market favors employees. The attitude of most workers is that they should have a job that makes them happy. So it's no surprise that at any given time 70 percent of the workforce is job hunting, according to the Wall St. Journal.

Everyone is looking for the right position. But what exactly does that mean?

Here is something it's probably not: Prestigious. People who chase fame and prestige are generally not as happy as other people. If you're after fame, you are setting goals that are dependent on other peoples' approval. Conversely, goals about self-acceptance and friendship make you happy because you have more control over them.

You might think you're different – that you have a legitimate shot at fame. Ninety percent of young workers think they are in the top 10 percent of all workers, according to Business Week. Also, 40 percent think they will become famous. The reality is 1 or 2 percent ever achieve a modicum of fame.

A good rule of thumb when choosing a job to make you happy is to pick one that is based on the following list of attributes.

To test a job to see if it's good, give the job points for each attribute it has:

1. A short, predictable commute – 1 point
The problem with a long commute is that it is long in a different way each day. Sometimes it's the rain, sometimes there's an accident. Sometimes traffic is backed up for no apparent reason. Humans can acclimate themselves to a lot of traumatic stuff – even being a paraplegic, according to Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness. But you cannot acclimate yourself to something that is bad in a different way every day.

2. Workflow you can manage – 1 point
This is not about doing work. This is about managing your personal life, which you cannot do if you have no control over your workflow. You need to be able to predict when things will be difficult and when it's safe to focus more on your personal life. This is why management consultants are generally happy – they oversee their own schedule. But those who hold client-heavy jobs, such as lawyers or financial analysts, have to jump at a clients' whim.

3. Clear goals that are challenging – 1 point
Goals that are not challenging result in boredom, not happiness. But challenging work without a clear goal is a bad job waiting to happen because people want to know how they're doing. But you can't get feedback from a boss who does not set clear goals to manage your progress.

It is worth noting that the primary cause of workplace burnout is not the amount of time spent working, but whether the work you did can make a difference. For example, nurses on the pediatric burn unit have high turnover because it is exhausting to be taking care of children without being able to stop their suffering. Conversely, entrepreneurs are typically happy because they have so much control over workflow and goals.

4. Two co-workers you're close friend with – 3 points
If you have two good friends at work, you are almost guaranteed to like your job, according to Tom Rath, the author of Vital Friends. This is, in part, because you can process the bad parts of a job more productively with friends by your side to help you.

So finding a job you like or turning a bad job in to a good job might actually be totally under your control; you can decide you are going to be likable and make friends, or not.

Test results:

0-2 points, probably not a good job

3 points, probably a good job

4 – 6 points, probably a really good job

MY THOUGHTS

so, do you have a good job or not? remember,happiness is a state of mind. if you're ready to be happy, then you will be. don't make a mistake of leaving your job because it sucks. you'll find the next job sucks,too. why? the problem is not out there.

may solusyon ba ang workplace stress

Solutions to Workplace Stress


Office stressors require solutions
By Jennifer Newman and Darryl Grigg, Vancouver Sun; Canwest News ServiceJuly 31, 2009


Workplace stress is common, yet is not always easy to see or remedy. Poor planning, difficulties with assessing priorities, organizational policy gaps, supervisory issues and immature interpersonal relations among co-workers can create stress.

Here are some stressors that, if left unchecked, harm staff and businesses:

- Accountability Stress: Generally, accountability is something positive. People like a sense of accomplishment and recognition when they reach milestones and deliver on promises.

However, stress results when individuals have an enormous amount of responsibility but no authority. In these situations, staff are to deliver on a project and may even be assigned as the lead person but they have no power to deal with issues as they arise.

For example, if someone on the project is not carrying his weight, the accountable staff person cannot wield enough authority to get the job done. So they are rendered ineffectual because they have no powers of discipline, performance review authority, hiring or firing capacity or ability to influence another's career. Yet, at the same time, this staff person must deliver his or her project in a timely fashion. The resulting stress is difficult to deal with especially when it looks like the project might fail without intervention.

Fixing this situation is difficult without the help of the superior who assigned the project. If that supervisor waves the staff person away, the project will probably fail.

This occurs when the employee in charge is unable to effect change in the composition of the team or offer incentives such as favourable evaluations to work diligently and co-operatively. Instead, staff find themselves up against people who don't have to perform at the standard required or even co-operate fully.

The staff person in charge should either have the authority to lead or the supervisor must partner with him to ensure the job is taken seriously. Many supervisors in this situation abdicate their responsibility for the project by handing it off to a relatively powerless subordinate.

Staff must have a frank discussion with the supervisor when this happens and if there is no change they may want to ask to be removed from the project or to take a different role.

- Work-Life Balance Stress: Juggling work and home life responsibilities can take a toll on those with family and career obligations. When one's standards in both arenas do not match what is humanly possible to achieve, stress results.

People are often inclined to believe that they must perform at Olympic levels both professionally and personally. Being able to stand back and critically examine what is most important and how to achieve these priorities is key.

If for example, a time crunch is occurring at work, it may be time to talk to family members about helping out to make the job at work go smoothly. If responsibilities are mounting at home, a discussion with a supervisor may be in order to offer some respite from scheduling difficulties at work.

Those who believe they must grin and bear it or make every priority a key "must do" are at the greatest risk for this kind of workplace stress. Evaluate what must be done, in what order and in what time frame and ask for help to combat this stressor.

- Discrimination: Enduring discrimination at work on the basis of one's race, gender, sexual orientation or physical disability can be extremely stressful. When this occurs it is important to know your company's policy regarding treatment of minorities.

Sometimes you may notice a particular ethnic or racial group is getting the interesting assignments or there are racial or sexual slurs made at your expense. Many companies have policies that provide recourse in these instances. However, if this is not the case and one can only appeal to superiors, it is important to document the issues about which you want action and your efforts to obtain better treatment.

Letting supervisors know that you want discriminatory activities to stop and that you are expecting action in this area is important. If you are not satisfied, consider moving up the chain of command or to a better company.

- Unfairness: Unfair work practices that don't constitute discrimination are no less stressful. Many employees have found themselves disengaged, thinking of quitting or apathetic at work when treated unfairly. This can include being implicitly or explicitly promised a promotion after completing required tasks to a high standard only to find that the promotion is not forthcoming.

Other instances include being given work beneath your abilities consistently, being appraised critically when circumstances prevented your optimal performance (the project was held up by another department and the responsibility lands on you) or when you weren't provided with the proper resources to do the job effectively. These kinds of situations breed burnout.

It is important to bring unfair circumstances and broken promises to the attention of the organization. Leaving resentment to fester will take its toll on your health in the long run.

- Office-Clique Stress: Social isolation in any situation can be devastating. Office cliques are particularly damaging to morale, given the amount of time spent there. It is normal for workers to be friends with some, but not all staff. But this does not mean others need to be excluded. Supervisors often tolerate this dynamic at their peril.

The difference between normal office friendships and the exclusion of individuals must be made explicit when office cliques are ruining a collegial atmosphere at work. Pointing out to the supervisor that this is occurring is important, but the clique is often subtly sanctioned by the boss who may even belong to the clique.

Appealing to the supervisor's desire to get things done and pointing out how the office clique prevents real collaboration may help heighten the supervisor's awareness. If that doesn't work, it may be time to transfer to another less sophomoric department.

While stress may be common at work, there are ways individual employees, supervisors and the organization can help reduce difficult encounters, harmful dynamics and poorly planned endeavours to generate increased efficiency, productivity and enjoyment.

Dr. Jennifer Newman and Dr. Darryl Grigg are registered psychologists and directors of Newman & Grigg Psychological and Consulting Services Ltd., a Vancouver-based corporate training and development partnership. They can be contacted at sunmailnewmangrigg.com
© Copyright (c)


WHAT I HAVE TO SAY

I totally agree with the workplace stress scenarios - having the responsibility without the authority, the constant pull between work and family, being discriminated because of your gender, nationality or beliefs, finding yourself powerless against the "super powers" - all of these can have a profound impact on one's well being. It is important to note, from this article, the key, the solution is communication - discussing it with someone who can influence or change the situation. Letting things as they are is not the solution to workplace stress.