1. Stress at Work OB on the Edge
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 1
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

2. How Stressed Are We? Stress Across the Country, 2001-2002 Region
% with no life stress
% with quite a lot of stress
Alberta
9.8
26.0
Atlantic Canada
14.6
18.7
British Columbia
12.0
23.6
Ontario
10.7
25.7
The Prairies
8.7
24.5
Quebec
18.0
30.0
Source:
Compiled using data from Statistics Canada, "Life Stress, by Sex, Household Population Aged 18 and Over, Canada,
Provinces, Territories, Health Regions and Peer Groups, 2000/01."
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 2
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

3. The Most Stressful Jobs
Rank Stress
Score Score
47. Auto Salesperson 56.3
50. College Professor 54.2
60. School Principal 51.7
103. Market Research Analyst 42.1
104. Personnel Recruiter 41.8
113. Hospital Administrator 39.6
119. Economist 38.7
122. Mechanical Engineer 38.3
124. Chiropractor 37.9
132. Technical Writer 36.5
149. Retail Salesperson 34.9
173. Accountant 31.1
193. Purchasing Agent 28.9
229. Broadcast Technician 24.2
245. Actuary 20.2
Rank Stress
Score Score
1. US President 176.6
2. Firefighter 110.9
3. Senior Executive 108.6
6. Surgeon 99.5
10. Air Traffic Controller 83.1
12. Public Relations Executive 78.5
16. Advertising Account Executive 74.6
17. Real Estate 73.1
20. Stockbroker 71.7
22. Pilot 68.7
25. Architect 66.9
31. Lawyer 64.3
33. General Physician 64.0
35. Insurance Agent 63.3
42. Advertising Salesperson 59.9
Source: Reprinted by permission of the Wall Street Journal, © 1996 Dow Jones & Company. All rights reserved worldwide.
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 3
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

4. What Is Stress?
A situation that creates excessive psychological or physiological demands on a person.
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 4
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

5. General Adaptation Syndrome
Alarm
Body tries to meet initial challenge of stressor.
Increased respiration, raised blood pressure, dilated pupils, tensed muscles
Resistance
Fatigue, anxiety, and tension
Exhaustion
Prolonged and continual exposure to stressor.
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 5
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

6. Effects of Stress Not necessarily bad But
Athletes or stage performers can use stress to perform close to peak level.
But
Students putting off studying until the last minute and then developing the flu does not result in peak performance.
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 6
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

7. Causes of Stress Changes in the workplace: Competition and change
Technological change
Increasingly diverse workforce
Downsizing
Employee empowerment and teamwork
Work/home conflict
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 7
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

8. Consequences of Stress
Physiological symptoms
e.g., increased blood pressure, headaches, heart attacks
Psychological symptoms
e.g., job dissatisfaction, tension, anxiety, irritability, boredom, procrastination
Behavioural symptoms
Changes in productivity, absence, turnover, eating habits, smoking, drinking, etc.
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 8
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

9. Why Do Individuals Differ in Their Experience of Stress
Perception
Job experience
Social support
Belief in locus of control
Hostility
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 9
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

10. How Do We Manage Stress? Individual Approaches
Time management
Physical activity
Relaxation techniques
Building social support
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 10
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

11. How Do We Manage Stress: Organizational Approaches
Selection and placement decisions
Goal setting
Redesigning jobs
Increasing employee involvement
Increasing organizational communication
Providing organizational wellness programs
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 11
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

12. FactBox
One in three Canadians between the ages of 25 and 44 claims to be a workaholic.
38% of people in management report being workaholics.
85% of married women who are employed full-time and have at least one child at home, and 75% of similarly situated men, say that weekdays are too short to accomplish what needs to get done.
The financial cost to companies because employees are trying to balance work and family obligations is estimated to be at least $2.7 billion a year.
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 12
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

13. FactBox
1/3 of Canadians don’t take all of their vacation days, saving their employers $8 billion a year.
When Canadians to go on holiday, 36% of them take work, and check their office voic and .
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 13
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

14. Tips for Reducing Stress
At least two or three times a week, spend time with supportive friends or family.
Ask for support when you are under pressure. This is a sign of health, not weakness.
If you have spiritual or religious beliefs, increase or maintain your involvement.
Use a variety of methods to reduce stress. Consider exercise, nutrition, hobbies, positive thinking, and relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga.
Source: J. Lee, “How to Fight That Debilitating Stress in Your Workplace,” The Vancouver Sun, April 5, 1999, p. C3. Reprinted with permission.
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 14
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

15. Reducing Stress in the Workplace
Avoid electronic monitoring of staff. Personal supervision generates considerably less stress.
Allow workers time to recharge after periods of intense or demanding work.
Deliver important information that significantly affects employees face to face.
Encourage positive social interactions between staff to promote problem solving around work issues and increase emotional support.
Keep in mind that staff need to balance privacy and social interaction at work. Extremes can generate stress.
Source: J. Lee, “How to Fight That Debilitating Stress in Your Workplace,” The Vancouver Sun, April 5, 1999, p. C3. Reprinted with permission.
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 15
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

16. FaceOff
When organizations provide on-site daycare facilities, they are filling a needed role in parents’ lives, and making it easier for parents to attend to their job demands rather than worry about child-care arrangements.
When employees expect organizations to provide child care, they are shifting their responsibilities to their employers, rather than keeping their family needs and concerns private. Moreover, it’s unfair to give child-care benefits when not all employees have children.
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 16
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

17. Your Perspective
1. Think of all of the technological changes that have happened in the workplace in recent years, including , BlackBerrys, and intranets. What are the positive benefits of all this change? What are the downsides? As an employee facing the demand to “stay connected” to your workplace, how would you try to maintain a balance in your life?
2. How much responsibility should individuals take for managing their own stress? To what extent should organizations become involved in the personal lives of their employees when trying to help them manage stress? What are the pros and cons for whether employees or organizations take responsibility for managing stress?
OB on the Edge: Stress, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition OB Stress 17
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada