Work Related Issues

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Pressure at work can help to keep individuals motivated and enthused about their job, however if the pressure gets too much it can also lead to work-related stress. It is estimated that work-related stress is responsible for about six million days of sick leave a year, with stress being related to many minor and major illnesses. As the majority of us spend approximately 25% of our adult lives working, it’s important to seek help if work-related stress is affecting you.

For most of us, work can provide us with a sense of purpose, structure, self-esteem, satisfaction and spending power, however it can also cause stress and worry. If left unresolved, stress and worry can also lead to anxiety and depression, leading to absence, poor performance and feelings of failure. Work-related stress can then also impact on other areas of an individual’s life, such as relationships at home.

A work related problem is any situation that prevents an individual from completely fulfilling their work expectations. Common work related issues include:

Pressure of deadlines

Increased workload

Not relating to colleagues or managers

The threat of redundancy

Pressure of achieving the desired results

Restructuring of the organisation

Difficulty relating to others in the workplace

Bullying and harassment

Lack of control or direction

Excessive or inflexible working hours

Lack of interest

Too much or too little responsibility

Inadequate training

Lack of support

Poor work/life balance

Symptoms:

Work-related stress can cause both physical and emotional symptoms, including:

Physical Symptoms

Excessive tiredness

Sweating

Headaches

Muscular tension

Increased heart rate

Emotional symptoms

Feeling unable to cope

Changes in mood at work and at home

Difficulty concentrating

Loss of motivation/commitment

Wanting to cry most of the time

Getting less done and being unable to plan

Causes:

There is no single cause of work-related stress; however the most common factors are related to relationships at work, organisational set-up, not feeling in control and management of work. It is often the combination of a number of stressful factors accumulating over time that lead to work-related stress. Each individual is affected differently by stress, so situations that affect some people may not affect others and vice versa.

Help and treatment:

Employers have a duty to take reasonable steps to try to resolve work-related stress, so talking to a manager or someone you feel comfortable with within the organisation can help. It is often impossible to escape pressure completely at work, however learning how to manage work-related stress is achievable. Prioritising, delegating work and time management are often effective methods of helping to reduce work-related stress. However, some people may want to seek further help if they feel they are unable to make the changes on their own.

Counselling can often help individuals unravel problems at work, casting new light on the situation and helping them to decide how best to resolve the issues. There are also a number of courses available in the UK for stress management.

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