Occupational stress is a psychological and physical disorder arising from workplace responsibilities, corporate culture, and interpersonal conflicts, leading to various health issues if not managed. Strategies for managing occupational stress include proper training, effective communication, job satisfaction initiatives, and creating healthy work environments. Stress can affect both genders differently, with women often experiencing more severe impacts, and it is essential for both individuals and organizations to implement effective stress management practices.

1. Onkar R. Satam
Occupational Stress
Stress Management

2. Definition
Physical or psychological disorder associated with an occupational environment and manifested in symptoms such as extreme
anxiety, or tension, or cramps, headaches, or digestion problems.
 Stress related to responsibilities associated with work, corporate culture or personality
conflicts
 Can lead to physical as well as emotional disorders
 May cause depression if left unattended

3. Effects of Occupational Stress
Psychological and behavioral problems
 Anxiety
 Irritability
 Alcohol and Drug Use
 Feeling Powerless
 Low Morale

4. Physical symptoms:
 Fatigue
 Headache
 Stomach Problems
 Muscular Aches and pains
 Chronic Mild Illness
 Sleep Disturbances
 Eating Disorders
If exposure to stressors in the workplace is prolonged, then chronic health problems
can occur including stroke.

5. Managing Occupational Stress
 New Technology
Stress due to introduction of new technology can be greately reduced by training of
the employees in the new technology so that they are comfortable and can easily
adjust to the new machines and work procedures
 Shift Work
Allocation of shifts to employees making sure that all employees are awarded shifts in
rotation to avoid monotony in work timings and conditions

6.  Longer Working Hours
Try not to work long hour and ask whether flexible working hours are available.
Enough sleep is essential.
 Deadlines
Set realistic goals and targets which are achievable in the given time frame with
optimum effort.
 Commuting to Work
Try to move in closer to workplace or find work near to residence. Travel with a
friend to work. Take train to avoid frustration of traffic jams.

7.  Working Conditions
Organizations need to provide with good lighting, ventilation, washroom facilities, rest rooms, first aid, canteen
etc to ensure hygienic and safe working conditions.
 Bad Communication
Improve communication skills, training can be imparted to employees in work related communication and
interpersonal skills as well as written communication.
 Accepting New Jobs
Moe on to next job once u learn the present job. Look out for only those jobs which you are actually interested
in.

8.  Being the Boss
Develop good rapport with employees and subordinates, lead by example, have good clear communication with
them and always reason out clearly and create a consensus for your decisions
 Queen Bee Syndrome
It is best to create a balance with fun, humor, and compassion with your co-workers and intermingle this with
your enthusiasm of strong work ethics to gain respect and guide others to mimic your enthusiasm.
 Lack of Enthusiasm
Monotony in job needs to be avoided. New challenges and responsibilities should be taken up to maintain enthusiasm.

9.  Job Satisfaction
Try and identify what u like in your job and what you don’t. Try and chalk out possible solutions. Talk to
superiors and try and change the characteristics of the job to make it more satisfying.
 Job Security
The threat of losing a job makes life generally very stressful. Workers also put up with more hassles just to
keep a job. Changing occupations is far more common now days - this can be one of the most stressful
times in a persons life.
 Boredom
Try and induce various activities and variations in work. Lack of enthusiasm and boredom are mainly due to
monotony in work and the elimination of this monotony will greatly reduce stress.

10. Occupational Stress and Gender
According to a study conducted jointly by University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, University of
Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, U.K., Graduate Institute of Behavioural Sciences,
Taiwan and University of South Florida, U.S.on the variations in effect of occupational stress on males
and females
 Both males and females experience same amount of stressors at workplace
 But men experience less stress than women
 Stressors at work have more effect on women as compared to men.

11. Women and Occupational Stress
Causes of Stress
 Dual responsibilities of professional as well as family life
 Decimation on basis of gender at workplace
 Inability to take up better or different jobs due to family pressure
Symptoms of Occupational Stress in Women
Psychological problems
Depressive symptoms, insomnia, dissatisfaction, irritability, rage, anxiety, fearfulness, feelings of guilt and
shame and withdrawal

12. Physical problems
Coronary heart disease, changes in blood pressure, body ache, tension headaches, digestive problems
and back pain
Dysfunctional behavioral manifestations
Sickness absenteeism, changing jobs frequently, career interruption and job withdrawal owing to
negative job attitudes
Women have to develop a model of working which enables them to keep a good balance between
professional and family life. They should not work the same way as men as men have much lesser
need to devote time everyday to family needs.
Source: http://www.onlymyhealth.com/women-occupational-stress-1271744658

13. Strategic Planning to Combat Occupational Stress
1. Individual Level Strategy
Examples of individual and situational factors that can help to reduce the effects of stressful working conditions include the following:
• Balance between work and family or personal life
• Create support network of friends and coworkers and talk out openly
• Maintain relaxed and positive outlook/attitude
• Change the motto - No one is perfect – perform the best
• Have realistic expectations
• Have a balanced diet
• Practice relaxation and meditation
• Have thorough medical check up at frequent intervals

14. 2. Corporate Level Strategy
It is important to identify characteristics associated with both healthy, low-stress work and
high levels of productivity
 Recognition of employees for good work performance
• Opportunities for career development
• An organizational culture that values the individual worker
• Management actions that are consistent with organizational values
• Exposure to stressful working conditions (called job stressors)

15. Corporate Stress Prevention Strategy
• Talk to individual employees, if possible or else to their first supervisors
• Hold group discussions with employees
• Measure employee perceptions of job, working conditions, stress, satisfaction
• Design a survey method
• Collect objective data
• Analyze the data and identify the problem
• Find out remedial measures

16. How to Change the Organization to Prevent Job Stress
• The workload should be in line with workers’ capabilities and resources
• Job design should stimulate and provide ample opportunities for workers to use their skills
• Clarity in workers’ roles and responsibilities
• Worker’s participation in making decisions for those actions affecting their interests
• Improved channels of communication
• Drawl of clear career development chart
• Ensuring social interaction opportunities among workers

17.  Physical signs: Headaches, tense muscles in neck, shoulders, high
blood pressure, insomnia, increased heart rate, increased production of
perspiration, loss of appetite or over eating, cramps, constant fatigue,
nausea, digestive disorders, ulcers, skin rashes, breathlessness, dry
mouth
 Emotional signs: easy to anger, irritable, mood swings, erratic
behaviour, alienate colleagues, friends and family,, decreasing
confidence, depression
 Health Effects: High blood pressure and Heart Disease; Behavioural
changes (cigarette use, alcohol and drug consumption); Anxiety (use of
prescription drugs such as tranquilisers)
How Can We Recognise Stress And Stress
Triggers?

18.  Arguments, becoming aggressive in conflict situations
 Loss of self-confidence
 Loss of interest in personal appearance, other people, social events or
previously enjoyed activities
 Less productive over time
 Absenteeism
 Poor concentration, difficulty remembering and Poor decision making
 Sadness, guilt, fatigue, apathy, and a pronounced feeling of
helplessness or failure
 Accidents
 Loss of job
 Family problems
What Are The Consequences Of Stress?

19. Organisational Stress affects the general
morale of an organisation, resulting in both
financial and personnel problems
 Elements that can be measured
 Unexpected changes in levels of
absenteeism among employees
 Quality of production within organisation,
with the emphasis on apparent decline
 Number of work related accidents
 Number of work related health complaints
Measuring Organisational Stress

20. ‘Society, the working world and daily life have changed almost beyond
recognition in the past 50 years. These changes have contributed to a major
increase in stress.’ Heller & Hindle
 Changing society
 Increasing urbanisation
 Ageing populations
 Changing gender roles
 Changing Organisations
 Responding to pressure
 Rethinking companies
 Changing operations
 Reaching the limits
 Encountering new work cultures
 Changing Practices
Understanding new technologies
Reassessing markets
Relocating offices
Diversifying careers
The Causes of Stress

21. The 90/10 Principle

22. Author: Stephen Covey
Discover the 90/10 Principle
It will change your life
(or at least, the way you react to situations)

23. What is this Principle?
10% of life is made up
of what happens to you.
…90% of life is decided by
how you react…

24. While some workplace stress is normal, excessive stress can interfere
with your productivity and impact your physical and emotional health.
And your ability to deal with it can mean the difference between
success or failure. You can’t control everything in your work
environment, but that doesn’t mean you’re powerless—even when
you’re stuck in a difficult situation. Finding ways to manage workplace
stress isn’t about making huge changes or rethinking career ambitions,
but rather about focusing on the one thing that’s always within your
control: you.
MANAGING STRESS

25. Your emotions are contagious,
and stress has an impact on the
quality of your interactions with
others. The better you are at
managing your own stress, the
more you'll positively affect those
around you, and the less other
people's stress will negatively
affect you.
MANAGING STRESS

26. THANK YOU