1. 7-1
Chapter 7
SSttrreessss aanndd
WWeellllbbeeiinngg
Michael A. Hitt
C. Chet Miller
Adrienne Colella
Slides by Ralph R. Braithwaite
2. 7-2
WWhhoo WWaannttss ttoo GGeett RRiidd ooff AAllll
tthhee SSttrreessss iinn YYoouurr LLiiffee??
Only One Group of
People Have No
Stress
3. 7-3
SSttrriikkiinngg ffoorr SSttrreessss aatt VVeerriizzoonn
Issues:
• Constant monitoring
• Promised training – didn’t happen
• Pressure to sell to every customer
• Call center perceived as a “gold-plated”
sweatshop
Exploring Behavior in Action
4. 7-4
SSttrriikkiinngg ffoorr SSttrreessss aatt VVeerriizzoonn
Settlement changes:
• Advanced notification of monitoring
• Monitoring only during regular hours
• Face-to-face feedback
• Permission to be away for 30 minutes
• Formation of a committee
• Funding for work-family support programs
• Team vs. individual performance measures
• Split shifts and job sharing
• Limits on overtime
Exploring Behavior in Action
5. 7-5
SSttrraatteeggiicc IImmppoorrttaannccee ooff
WWoorrkkppllaaccee SSttrreessss
26-40% of Americans find their work
to be very or extremely stressful.
25% of people believe their
jobs are the most stressful
part of their lives
THE GALLUP
POLL
35% of respondents –
somewhat or
completely dissatisfied
with job-related stress
6. 7-6
KKnnoowwlleeddggee OObbjjeeccttiivveess
1. Define stress and distinguish among different types of
stress.
2. Understand how the human body reacts to stress and
be able to identify the signs of suffering from too much
stress.
3. Describe two important models of workplace stress
and discuss the most common work-related stressors.
4. Recognize how people experience stress.
5. Explain the individual and organizational
consequences of stress.
6. Discuss methods that associates, managers, and
organizations can use to manage stress and promote
well-being.
8. Feelings of
Sadness
Acute
Chronic
Uneasiness
and Worry
Increase in
Energy
Alertness and
Excitement
Loss of
Appetite
Immune System
Suppression
Increased
Metabolism
Loss of
Sex Drive
High Blood
Pressure
Diabetes
Irritability
Lowered
Resistance
Anxiety and
Panic Attacks
Depression
Eating
Disturbances
Adapted from Exhibit 7-1: Some Stress-Related Conditions 7-8
10. 7-10
KKeeyy DDeeffiinniittiioonnss
Stressor – environmental conditions that
cause individuals to experience stress
Eustress – positive stress that results from
meeting challenges and difficulties with the
expectation of achievement
Dystress – negative stress; often referred to
simply as stress. Often results in overload.
Job strain – function of workplace demands and
the control an individual has in meeting those
demands.
Hans Selye
11. 7-11
SSiiggnnss ooff SSttrreessss
Edward Creagan, MD
1. You feel irritable.
2. You have sleeping difficulties.
3. You do not get any joy out of life.
4. Your appetite is disturbed.
5. You have relationship problems and
have a difficult time getting along
with people.
12. TTwwoo MMooddeellss ooff WWoorrkkppllaaccee SSttrreessss
7-12
Demand-Control
Model
Effort-Reward
Imbalance
Model
13. 7-13
DDeemmaanndd--CCoonnttrrooll MMooddeell
Passive
Active
(EUSTRESS)
High Strain
(DYSTRESS)
Low Strain
Job Demands
Job Control
High
Low
Low High
Adapted from Exhibit 7-2: The Demand-Control Model of Workplace
Stress
14. EEffffoorrtt--RReewwaarrdd IImmbbaallaannccee MMooddeell
HHHHiiiigggghhhh EEEEffffffffoooorrrrtttt LLLLoooowwww RRRReeeewwwwaaaarrrrdddd
7-14
OOOOvvvveeeerrrrccccoooommmmmmmmiiiittttmmmmeeeennnntttt
DDeemmaannddss
OObblliiggaattiioonnss
DDeemmaannddss
OObblliiggaattiioonnss
PPaayy
EEsstteeeemm
PPaayy
EEsstteeeemm
Adapted from Exhibit 7-3: The Effort-Reward Imbalance Model of Workplace Stress
16. 7-16
Managerial
Advice
RReessttoorriinngg aanndd MMaaiinnttaaiinniinngg
WWoorrkk--LLiiffee BBaallaannccee
• Focus on what is truly important.
• Take advantage of work-related
options.
• Protect non-work time.
• Manage your personal time.
• Set aside specific time each
week for recreation.
Thoughts?
19. 7-19
Experiencing
Strategic OB
EExxttrreemmee JJoobbss
• What are your thoughts on working 60 or
more hours a week?
• Do you think you could like a job that much
to put in the extra time?
• Do you think everyone who works these
kinds of hours is a “workaholic”?
• How does work-life balance fit here?
• Why do you think the gender difference still
persists?
22. 7-22
OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonnaall CCoonnsseeqquueenncceess
ooff SSttrreessss
Estimated cost to American industry of
job stress $200 billion per year
• Absenteeism
• Diminished productivity
• Compensation claims
Some perspective:
• Health insurance
• Direct medical
expenses
• Total U.S. corporate profits in 2006 – $897.6 billion
• Entire U.S. gross domestic product (the market value of
the nation’s goods and services) was approximately
$13,246 billion in 2006
Adapted from Exhibit 7-4: Managerial Costs of Job Stress
23. 7-23
IInnddiivviidduuaall SSttrreessss MMaannaaggeemmeenntt
• Find jobs that provide a personally acceptable balance
between demands and control and between effort
required and rewards.
• Redesign a dysfunctional job.
• Follow the tactics presented in the Managerial Advice
feature.
• Develop healthy ways of coping.
EExxeerrcciissee PPrrooppeerr DDiieett
SSuuppppoorrtt
NNeettwwoorrkk
RReellaaxxaattiioonn
TTeecchhnniiqquueess
24. 7-24
IInnddiivviidduuaall SSttrreessss MMaannaaggeemmeenntt
• Exercise regularly
• Practice healthy habits
• Be realistic
• Use systematic relaxation
• Meditate
• Develop and use planning
skills
• Simplify your life – Delegate
• Take one thing at a time
• Avoid unnecessary
competition
• Recognize and accept
personal limits
• Develop social support
networks
• Focus on enjoying what you do
• Go easy with criticism
• Take time off
25. 7-25
OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonnaall SSttrreessss
MMaannaaggeemmeenntt
• Increase individuals’ autonomy and control
• Ensure that individuals are compensated properly
• Maintain job demands/requirements at healthy levels
• Ensure that associates have adequate skills to keep up-to-date
with technical changes in the workplace
• Increase associate involvement in important decision making
• Improve physical working conditions
• Provide for job security and career development
• Provide healthy work schedules
• Improve communication to help avoid uncertainty and
ambiguity
26. 7-26
TTooxxiinn HHaannddlleerrss
Peter Frost
The following behaviors are
necessary for handling the pain,
strain, and stress of others:
• Read your own and others’ emotional cues and
understand their impact
• Keep people connected
• Empathize with those who are in pain
• Act to alleviate the suffering of others
• Mobilize people to deal with their pain and get their lives
back on track
• Create an environment where compassionate behavior
toward others is encouraged and rewarded
27. 7-27
WWeellllnneessss PPrrooggrraammss
Estimate suggests J&J’s program has saved the
company $22.4 million per year. The initiative has
several goals:
• 91% of employees will be tobacco free
• 90% of employees will have blood pressure of 140/90 or better
• 85% of employees will have a total cholesterol below 240
• 75% of employees will be physically active, define as 30
minutes of activity three or more times each week
• 60% of employees will be trained in resilience/stress
management
28. 7-28
IInncceennttiivveess ffoorr PPaarrttiicciippaattiinngg iinn
WWeellllnneessss PPrrooggrraammss
What are your thoughts about
organizations that provide an incentive
to employees who participate in
wellness programs?
What about organizations that “penalize”
employees who don’t complete programs or
have medical evaluations?
Should higher risk individuals be expected (or
required) to pay higher rates for coverage?
What exists in your organizations that are
similar to these types of programs?
Experiencing
Strategic OB
29. 7-29
TThhee SSttrraatteeggiicc LLeennss
1. How can good stress be distinguished from bad stress?
How much stress is too much stress?
2. How can managing stress in any organization
contribute to improved strategy implementation and
organizational performance?
3. How much stress do you currently experience? How
can reducing your stress increase your performance in
school and enhance your life in general?
Stress – a feeling of tension that occurs when a person assesses that a given situation is about to exceed his or her ability to cope and consequently will endanger his or her well-being.
Job stress - the feeling that one’s capabilities, resources, or needs do not match the demands of the job.
Acute stress – a short-term stress reaction to an immediate threat
Chronic stress – a long-term stress reaction resulting from ongoing situations
Demand-control model – a model that suggests experienced stress is a function of both job demands and job control. Stress is highest when demands are high but individuals have little control over the situation
Effort-reward imbalance model – a model that suggests experienced stress is a function of both required effort and rewards obtained. Stress is highest when required effort is high but rewards are low.
A model that suggests experienced stress is a function of both job demands and job control. Stress is highest when demands are high but individuals have little control over the situation.
Role ambiguity – a situation in which goals, expectations, and/or basic job requirements are unclear
Work overload – too much work or work that is too complex
Occupation – jobs with high demands and strong required efforts can cause stress
Resource inadequacy – not enough resources to get the job done
Working conditions – physical surroundings and psychological aspects
Management style – impacts the psychological climate
Monitoring – overseeing the activities of the employees
Job insecurity – mergers, acquisitions, downsizing, and moving work offshore
Type A vs. Type B Personality - Type A – Competitiveness, Aggressiveness, Impatience, Increase their own volume of work overload. More susceptible to stress-related illnesses. Type B personalities are quite different. They tend to be less competitive, less aggressive, more patient, and more reasonable.
Self-esteem - People with high self-esteem - Experience greater well-being, More resistant to the effects of stressors, More likely to engage in active coping behaviors when stressed.
Hardiness - Persons high in hardiness tend to have strong internal commitment to their activities, have an internal locus of control, seek challenge in everyday life, experience less severe negative stress reactions.
Gender - Women are generally lower-paid, more likely to experience discrimination, stereotyping and work-family conflict, more likely to work in stressful service industries, experience more work-related stress than men.
Burnout – a condition of physical or emotional exhaustion generally brought about by stress; associates and managers experiencing burnout show various symptoms, such as constant fatigue, or lack of enthusiasm for work, and increasing isolation from others.
Alcoholics and drug users – less productive, more sick days, more safety hazards, more workers’ compensation claims, and miss more workdays due to hangovers
Exercise regularly. Twenty to 30 minutes of exercise per day benefits you physically and mentally.
Practice healthy habits. Get enough sleep. Eat a healthy diet. Avoid tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, and other drugs.
Be realistic. Understand your limits and be willing to say “no!”
Use systematic relaxation. Meditate. Engage in breathing exercises. Sit quietly and think of only pleasant things. Ten to 20 minutes of reflection can raise your resistance to chronic stress.
Develop and use planning skills. Planning can help you avoid stressors and figure out ways to cope with those you do encounter.
Simplify your life. Delegate. Get organized. Drop unnecessary and unpleasant activities.
Take one thing at a time. Avoid unnecessary overload. Don’t take work problems home. Don’t take home problems to work.
Avoid unnecessary competition. No one is always the best. Give in occasionally.
Recognize and accept personal limits. Drop the urge to be “superman” or “superwoman.” No one is perfect.
Develop social support networks. Research consistently shows that social support helps mitigate the effects of stress. Don’t try to cope alone.
Focus on enjoying what you do. Laugh!
Go easy with criticism. Go easy on yourself and others. Look for the positive. Research from the Mayo Clinic suggests that people with a positive outlook on life are healthier and live longer than those with a negative outlook.
Take time off. Go on vacation. Spend time everyday doing something you enjoy.
