origin of stress in the workplace

1. „ Stress origin Number 1: The working place“The permanent restructuring stresses the employees in a never known amount

2. origin of stress in the workplace • increase of stress? Inquiry 1999 • 48% more stress than 5 years before • only 8% less stress • origin: • compulsion to higher achievement (50%) • more responsibilities (51%) • Narrower supervision through superior (26%) CASH 06.08.99

3. origin of stress in the workplace • study on 1000 employees 1999 in Switzerland • 74% new superiors in the last 2 years • 70% new salary system • 59% working hours newly organised • 55% loss of good working colleagues • 100% new tasks and new colleagues • Every of these points was perceived as a large problem in 10% of the inquired people ACTIONISM CASH 06.08.99

4. SECO-Stress study Der Stress costs 4.2 billions of Swiss francs Inquiry of 900 representatively chosen employees in Switzerland Tages-Anzeiger of 13.9.00

5. 2,4 2,5 2,0 1,4 1,5 billions CHF 1,0 0,4 0,5 0,0 absences and medical treatment medication loss of production Seco-Stress study • 4.2 billions CHF correspond to 1.2 % of the gross inland product not considered costs: Death, invalidity, sorrows of the concerned

6. SECO-Stress study • 18% no stress • -> health costs factor 1 • 12% always stressed • -> health costs factor 6 • 70% can cope with stress • -> health costs factor 4

7. Seco-Stress study • Stressor Nr. 1: Workplace • Stressor Nr. 2: combination of occupational and private stress load • women more often stressed than men • younger people more stressed than older ones • French part people more stressed than german part people

8. stress events study at the university of Bern 2000-2001 : • reported stress events during a working week  70% concerning the job source: Kaiser-Probst & Schlapbach (2000), Jakob (2002)

9. Study European Union • 60‘000 people inquired about work related complaints in 1999 • 30% complain about back problems • 27% complain about stress related symptoms

10. Definition of stress? material testing force Stress Definition physical, psychological and behavior influencing reaction of a person, to adapt to internal and external loads influence result Seyle‘s concept of stress Stressor Stress fear, noise ... physical reaction

11. Triggers of stress -> stressors event test situation overstrain stressors (triggers) • physical noise temperature • psychosocial frustration fears time pressure • expectations and imaginations person superior colleague object flickering lamp

12. positive and negative stress distress negative stress reduces performance and wellbeeing eustress stimulating stress increases performance and wellbeeing stress increasing negative stress (= distress) optimal stresslevel (=eustress) small load high load

13. sense ofstress mechanism Stress is a reflex for life saving by provisioning the body with a big amount of energy stress is therefore a natural defense mechanism

14. Stress earlier and today • from readiness to chronic alert • earlier „battle or flight“ as a self preservation drive • today „helplessness and subordination“ chronic repetitive psychological threat without the need of physical action

15. Stress earlier and today

16. stress symptoms how reacts our body on stress ?

17. diseases due to stress acute chronic circulatory system puls , blood pressure hypertension, arrhythmia breathing organs quick, superficial no long term symptoms intestinal stop meteorism, flatulence liver blood sugar tendency to diabetes skin pale, sweat chronic skin diseases stop erectile dysfunction, menstr. uro-genital brain focussing depression, concentration etc muscles muscle tension muscle pain, neck/shoulder

18. coping strategies structurel- change cause - avoid problem individual reduction of the personal loads

19. individual coping strategies short term coping spontaneous change of positive physical relaxation perception monologue reaction long term coping relaxation time contacts problem- change of contentment capacities management solution attitude

20. coping strategies • social support low many psychosomatic symptoms middle degree of social support high rare low workplace load high

21. future of the workplace • work condensation • more tasks in same time • rise of expenses and results • increase of the availability (-> globalisation) • working rhythm fells away • increasing degree of abstraction

22. future demands on managers • executive function becomes more demanding • leading with confidence • sense fullfillment of the employees • Bearing of uncertainty increases • more data, less information, more knowledge, less understanding

23. future demands on managers • leaning back itself, knowing that, at least for short-term, everything is okay, will no more be possible • nothing more and above all the own position will no more be secure

24. future demands on managers • principle • good working methods • health and fitness • stable private environment • work-life-balance

25. what makes your companyan attractive employer? • good working climate (social support) • interesting work content • career possibilities and continuity in education • corporate identity • salary