Occupational Causes of Stress

Many workers find themselves dealing with occupational stress--the psychological or physical disorder usually associated with workplace conditions. It manifests itself through symptoms such as tension, headaches, extreme anxiety, and digestion problems. It can be a very serious issue for many people, and there are many causes for it.

Technology and Shift Work

• Although developments in technology are intended to make things easier for people on the job, the opposite is often the case. Trying to keep up with the rapid technological changes is tremendously stressful to workers who have difficulty understanding it and adjusting to something so new.

  People who work different shifts at their jobs can find themselves suffering greatly from the stress caused when their normal body clocks are upset by interrupted sleep patterns.

Deadlines and Long Work Hours

• Some people's jobs involve meeting deadlines on a regular basis. This can be seriously stressful. Others make matters worse by setting high, unrealistic deadlines for themselves.

  Working too many hours in one work week can be a source of occupational stress. People who work long hours become tired, resulting in decreased productivity and, consequently, more stress. Lack of sleep also contributes to stress.

Commuting and Work Conditions

• Many workers deal with a commute to and from their jobs everyday. Rush hour is stressful not just because it's dangerous and nerveracking, but because it involves the worry about getting to work on time and, after work, being anxious to get home.

  Unhealthy working conditions contribute to occupational stress. Sometimes employees are not provided the things needed to facilitate good job performance and, consequently, frustration grows. It's easy to feel stress growing when you can't do anything about an office that is too hot or cold, too noisy, or too cramped or cluttered.

Boredom

• A person finding himself uninterested in his work is going to be frustrated, bored and stressed. This sometimes results from holding jobs involving repetition or little task variety. When a person holds a job whose only payoff is the paycheck, there is little self-fulfillment.

Personnel Conflicts

• Working with people that you dislike or don't get along with well can be a significant source of stress. Spending hours each day in these situations is taxing. For some, discomfort and stress come simply from working long stretches with new faces or with co-workers they haven't had a chance to get to know.

  Finally, holding a supervisory position can be a huge cause of occupational stress, for obvious reasons. Bosses are not always well-liked by workers. Add to that being the one responsible for hiring and firing and you've basically defined the most stressful job of all.