Employers are under increasing pressure these days, and recent research shows that this stress also flows to their employees. The latest statistics from the American Psychological Association provides some staggering numbers on stress at work, which could be the answer with faith-based counseling.
Statistics
According to Study:
• 52% have made a career decision based on stress at work
• 52% stated that their job interferes with their family and home life
• 33% reported being overworked
• 32% believe that stress at work has caused them to gain weight in their current position
Causes of Stress at Work
Stress at work usually occurs whenever there has been a significant change in one’s duties, or certain company policies and procedures have changed dramatically. Some of the most common reasons why people suffer from work-related stress including:
• The company suddenly has a new owner
• Change of managers, both top and bottom levels
• Changes in the type of work performed by certain companies
• Relocation of the company, or certain parts of it
• Modification or reduction of working hours
• Businesses have shown diminishing returns, creating more pressure for workers to excel
• Workload that is heavier than average
• Decrease in salary or benefits
• Favoritism towards certain workers
• Sexual harassment or discrimination
People can also suffer from anxiety at work whenever there is a significant change in the company, even if the change does not affect them personally. For example, a worker could be stressed out by a recent layoff, even if he or she was not included, because it could raise concerns for the person’s own job security. Employees may also suffer stress if there are significant changes in personnel between departments, especially if they now have to work with people they have difficulty getting to know.
Possible Consequences for Entrepreneurs
Anxiety at work can lead to an increase in the number of workplace accidents, as those who are depressed may have difficulty paying attention while performing their tasks. When stress at work results from higher demands, people may also take shortcuts to increase their productivity for fear of being written down. Safety violations due to stress on the job lead to millions of dollars in lost wages and consequent injury payouts.
Beyond safety, companies with a large number of stressed employees may also see a decline in the quality of the products and services they offer. Workers may let inferior goods pass quality control inspections, or vent their frustration by being rude to customers. This in turn can damage a company’s reputation, and cause them to lose money in the long run.
Employees who are depressed because of their working conditions are also more likely to steal from their employees than those who are happy with their jobs. This is especially true when the cause of stress is the loss of wages or benefits, as workers may try to “fill up” the difference by stealing goods or services.
Signs of Anxiety at Work
There are several signs that indicate that someone is suffering from anxiety at work and needs faith-based counseling, some of which are:
• Having trouble feeling hopeful about the job
• Decreased productivity
• Increase in absenteeism
• Crying or irritability
• Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
• Excessive worry about the future related to a particular job
• Difficulty communicating with supervisors or co-workers
These symptoms not only affect a worker mentally, but also physically. Those who experience stress at work may also experience certain physical symptoms such as:
• Hard to sleep
• Loss of appetite
• Frequent or severe headaches
• Nauseous
• Feeling agitated or nervous
• Extreme weight gain or loss
• Often feel tired
Left untreated, depression caused by stress at work can affect every aspect of a person’s life, causing strained relationships with family members and even marital problems. Fortunately, most people respond well to faith-based counseling to help them deal with stress at work and help get their lives back on track.
Help Available
Those suffering from stress at work do not have to suffer alone. Help is available from many doctors, psychologists, counselors, and support groups. Google one of these types of groups to learn more and find local help.
Louis Salazar have worked in the counseling field for many years and have found that the work environment can cause insignificant stress.
