Stress relief benefits employer, employees

Most of us must work for a living. And we are fortunate if we look forward and approach each day on the job with enthusiasm and energy.

That’s the best way to avoid occupational stress. Industry and management found long ago that happy satisfied employees produced more work, were absent less, had fewer accidents and changed jobs less frequently than employees who showed little interest or ambition in their work.

While each job has its own unique problems and pressure points, how a person handles those difficulties will, to a large part, determine how well that person likes that job, how effective he is on the job and how many years he is able to work at that job.

Aware of reasons for occupational stress, many employers are looking at ways of modifying pressure points within the organization. Studies have shown that occupational stress is linked to such problems as job dissatisfaction, reduced levels of aspiration, substance abuse, drugs and alcohol, and poor family life.

As the number of workers with occupational stress increases dramatically each year, we should examine some of the factors that are sources of stress.

The following information was recently passed on to me and would seem to assist any organization in looking at possible sources of stress. The author is unknown.

10 Ways to Kill an Organization

Don’t attend meetings
Never have anything to say at meetings, wait until you get outside.
When at meetings, vote to do everything and then go home and do nothing.
The next day, find fault with your officers and fellow members.
Take no part in the organization’s affairs.
Take all the organization can give you, but give nothing in return.
Talk cooperation, but never cooperate.
If asked to help, always say that you don’t have the time.
Never accept an office. It is much easier to criticize than to do so.
Don’t do anything more than you have to, and when others willingly and unselfishly use their ability to help the cause, then howl because the organization is being run by a clique.

Decreasing occupational stress produces benefits for both the employer and the employee. Working toward this goal should be a high priority for any business or industry.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2000