Stress

Stress


CHAPTER I


INTRODUCTION


Statement of the Research Problem


How do you cope with stress in the workplace to achieve a more balanced

lifestyle?  Stress is a part of everybody's life.  Depending on the level of

stress, it can control our lives, especially in the workplace.  We begin to

spend several long hours at work, and thus have less time for other things.

Stressed employees may be unhappy and thus produce nominally.  Stress can

deteriorate social and family relationships and eventually burn you out;

ultimately it can take toll on your health. Organizations need to recognize

stress as a problem and decide whether or not to act upon it.


Background Information


This question needs to be answered because stress is a problem that all

organizations must deal with;  stress can cause poor work performance and lower

employee morale.  These factors can increase employee turnover rate and lessen

quality of life.  We all must deal with stress;  question is how we handle and

control it.  With downsizing the buzz word in the modern corporate world,

companies have become mean and lean.  Employees are compelled to be more

efficient;  they find themselves taking on the work of what used to be two.  The

result is longer hours, less time for outside activities, and consequently

increased stress.


According to Business Week, the typical American works 47 hours a week, and if

current trends continue, in 20 years "the average person would be on the job 60

hours a week."  Another factor that increases stress is technological

advancements.  With all the new technology one is always connected to work and

accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  According to Business Week, it is now

possible, and thus increasingly expected, for employees to be accessible and

productive any hour, any day.


At a workplace, one observes several sales people working long hours, claiming

it is due to under staffing.  Employees reach a point of diminishing returns.

The more hours they work, the less productive they are. This stressful condition

causes the quality of work to dwindle.  Consequently, clients recognize this,

and eventually they terminate the business relationship.  Soon the company loses,

as it is built on these clients.


Statement of the Objectives


In this research, I expect to discuss factors which lead to stress in the

workplace.  Are individuals stressed in the workplace?  What causes stress in

the workplace?  Who is mostly stressed: men or women?  Are individuals being

exposed to stress management techniques?  Should employers implement stress

management techniques?  As a future manager, I would like to be able to

determine if stress is a problem for employees;  if so, implement a strategy to

curtail stress in the workplace.  By recognizing stress in the workplace,

employers can act appropriately to reduce stress.  The outcome can benefit

social and family relationships, as well as preserve ones health and make us

more productive in our organizations.


Scope


The research project will comprise of a sample size of 30 individuals, randomly

selected from general business areas. The study will analyze stress factors in

the U.S workforce and its impact on the American organization.  Effective stress

management techniques will then be presented, which will allow individuals or

organizations to implement. Secondary information from various sources will be

utilized to explore effective methods of coping with stress.  The conclusions

and recommendations I will draw will be applicable to any American organization

with stress as a problem.  Although this study will generalize from the small

population, it can be used as a starting point to recognizing the problem, as

each organization can require a different approach.


Limitations


The sources utilized in the research will be extracted from current articles

(1994-present) from online services, the Internet, and public libraries.  A

survey will be given to individuals of randomly chosen organizations and will

not target any specific company or industry.  Due to 
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