Bus 642 - Business Research Methods and Tools - Stress in the Workplace

Michael Wilson

BUS642: Business Research Methods and Tools

Stress in the Workplace

Instructor Raj Singh

January 28, 2013

Stress in the Workplace

Introduction

It is almost inevitable to experience stress in the workplace, regardless of what organization or industry an individual works in. Through history, the presence of stress has always been a reality that once must face in the workforce. However, with the current state of economy stress in the workplace is a growing concern due to employees facing increased conditions of overwork, decreased levels of job satisfaction, harsh work environments, job insecurity, and lack of self-sufficiency. In many organizations, employees as well as management are not completely clear about what their roles are in the organization, which ultimately leads to increased levels of stress. There have also been research and studies conducted that indicates that even with high levels of stress in the workplace, it actually exerts better performance in employees. In addition these studies also indicate that stress is actually needed in the workplace to increase levels of performance. Considering the implications of these studies, it is important to explore a hypothesis on how causes of work stress has an effect on motivation and job performance. In this paper, it will be discussed how crucial this hypothesis is in confirming that stress in the workplace has more of a negative impact on employees. Furthermore, it will be discussed how stress contributes to many health related issues.

General Causes of Stress

The stress response is a double-edge sword. When stress is working properly, it helps you to stay focused, energetic and alert, (Kelley, Keaton, & Albrect, 2011). For all human beings to a certain degree, stress actually enhances concentration and increases a person’s performance and productivity. Stress usually takes place when an individual is faced with a situation or threat that makes that person feel they may not have the necessary resources or skills to overcome. When pressure begins to build up, it can cause adverse strains on ones emotions, thought process, and physical condition, (Mathur, Vigg, & Sandhar, 2007). In the workplace, stress can often rise to high intense levels when employees deem it to be excessive or unmanageable. The causes of stress vary from person to person, but there are often certain stressors that impact the majority of people occupying the same environment. In general there are two major kinds of stress, one classified as acute and other being chronic stress. Acute stress is often the normal