VOICE OF THE
WORKERS ISSUE 29 July 2014
Contents Been there, done that
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Controlling stress at work
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Healthy Workplaces
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Stress issues at work
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The European Dimension
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Work-related stress
A question of control. Hans Selye once said that “It’s not our stress that kills us. It is our reaction to it”. Many people like to state that stress is the hallmark of modern man. However, stress is as ancient as man himself. What is making us different from our ancestors is not our human nature, but the amount of things going on around us. Especially with the advent of IT, man has developed tools to become faster and more efficient. However, the basis of whether stress is positive, or whether it becomes dangerous to a person is our attitude to it. VOICE OF THE
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The ingredients for stress at work are known: too much unwarranted pressure, lack of management support, unwarranted uncertainty, workrelated violence and bullying or harassment, as well as organisational injustice. When this is sometimes related to stress that is non-work related, the concoction becomes more dangerous. As long as it is managed well, stress is a good thing. It improves a worker’s performance and often increases the motivation not just personally, but also in
Editor’s note josef Vella teams within the organisation. However, the key is control. Persons who feel that they are in control of their stress, handle it well. However, those who do not feel in control, often end up dealing with stress through unhealthy behaviour, such as drinking, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, lack of sleep, and bad diets. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in 2011/12, 428,000 people in the UK reported work-related stress at a level they believed was making them ill. This amounted to a staggering 40% of all workrelated illness. 1
editorial
Managing stress at the workplace is a priority not just of the individual worker, but also of all the stakeholders at the workplace, especially management and fellow workers. We need to make sure that workers’ resilience and attitude is commensurate with the stress levels at work. We need to help over-stressed people open up and talk to professionals about their issues. More education is needed so that more people learn to say no to things that will jeopardise their physical and mental and emotional health; we need training on how to
detect stress when this becomes a problem; there needs to be more awareness on how we can feel more in control when under stress. We are making progress. Legislating against harassment and discrimination, as well as relevant health and safety standards come to mind. But a lot more needs to be done. We need a culture change in this respect. The time we spend at work is many times in excess of the hours we spend with our loved ones.
This means that uncontrolled stress will not only affect our health at work, but will also affect our relationships and life at home and elsewhere. This means that if we do not have the necessary tools to control stress, the consequences will be more far-reaching than the workplace itself. This issue can be dealt with even at social partnership level. It is in everyone’s interest that work is productive, satisfying and beneficial. Above all, it is the inalienable right of every individual to achieve happiness. The workplace is a vital starting point.
Been there, done that The difference between beneficial and hazardous stress is a question of control. Stress may be beneficial if the persons feels in charge. Lack of control may result in unwarranted behaviour as well as physical and mental illness. Since stress is a very tangible reality, more needs to be done in terms of awareness, and education on how to handle it effectively. Our productivity depends not just on how we work, but to the extent of how we work smart and play smart. VOICE OF THE
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Feature story
Controlling stress at work Some statistics It is estimated that modern workers are interrupted an average of 7 times an hour, Tending to other things keeps workers distracted up to 2.1 hours a day 40% of adults say they lie awake at night plagued by the stressful events of the day (Forbes) 51% of employees said they were less productive at work as a result of stress (American Psychological Association, 2009).
52% of employees report that they have considered or made a decision about their career such as looking for a new job, declining a promotion or leaving a job based on workplace stress (American Psychological Association, 2007).
Studies suggest that between 50% and 60% of all lost working days in Europe have some link with work-related stress (OSHA Europe) In 2002, The European Commission reported that the yearly cost of work-related stress in the EU16 was â‚Ź20,000 million each year.
Tips to help you control your stress levels at work You need to keep focused throughout the day, and be left with enough energy after work. Uncontrolled stress may lead to unwanted physical as well as mental and emotional consequences. The following is a list of tips to help you be in control of your stress at work Act rather than react Chronic stress may wear down your confidence, concentration and well-being. It is better to be proactive, rather than reactive to stressful situations. Get to know yourself, and learn to say no when needed.
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Take a deep breath Uncontrolled stress often forces us to use shalow breaths, makeing us feeling we are gasping for air. Take a few seconds to breathe deeply, relax while you’re doing it, and be more aware of yourself.
Eliminate interruptions Emails, phone calls, messages and unwarranted deadlines all besiege your time, tempting you to divert attention from what you were doing. You need to filter out the junk from what is really important, and cut down on the multi-tasking that leads you to try to increase quanity at the expense of quality. 3
Feature story
Be the sprinter, not the marathon runner Don’t push yourself continuously. it is better to work in 90 minute spurts and have a good break, rather than trying to push yourself more. Working smarter is the key. Eat right and sleep well Go low sugar, high protein. Also, sleep permits us to make a recovery from a day’s work. Lack of sufficient sleep you miss out on sleep’s rejuvenating effects. Take a more objective view and avoid the personal - When something happens, try finding an explanation into certain events, and go for a contructive, open approach, rather than a defensive one. Calm down, and try to look at the issue by looking at it from outside it.
Identify Self-imposed stress Make sure you build relationships based on your own selfconfidence, rather than seeking other people’s approval. If people are getting to you. focus more on the work you do than on the people behind them. Procrastination may become a side-effect if you do not handle this. Prioritise your priorities You do not have the time to do everything, but you always have the time to do the most important ones.
the person. This is to be dome in positive and constructive, even if assertive, tomes. Strive to love yourself Control is a process. You are in a constant process of dealing with your thoughts and emotions each day; some 60,000 of them. Use positive reinforcement with yourself; see problems as challenges, and always strive to become better. Remember to take the necessary fuel: positivity, breaks, good music, exercise, and some time for relaxation.
Influence others You are really responsible for your own behaviour as well as your attitudes. However, you can also influence others who may induce more unwanted stress into the organisation. It ios important that you address the behaviour, not
What they said about work stress
“Working hard for “When it comes to “Work is love made something we don’t the point where you visible. And if you cannot care about is called occasionally look forward work with love but only stress. Working hard for to being in prison on the with distaste, it is better something we love is basis that you might be that you should leave called passion.” able to spend a day reading your work...” Simon Sinek a book, the realization Kahlil Gibran dawns that perhaps the situation has become a little more stressful than you would like.” Julian Assange VOICE OF THE
WORKERS
“Of all the things that matter, that really and truly matter, working more efficiently and getting more done, is not one of them.” Mike Dooley
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MEUSAC
Healthy Workplaces Work-related stress is one of the most challenging issues that are related to occupational safety and health. It does have a significant impact on the health of individuals, their organisations and also on national economies in general Statistics by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) show that in the European Union alone, around half of European workers consider stress to be common in their workplace and that stress contributes to around half of all lost working days. Moreover, around 40% of respondents in the same study were of the opinion that stress at their workplace is managed in a negative way. Stress issues at work arise from poor work design, organisation and management, as well as a poor social context of work,
and they may result in negative psychological, physical and social outcomes such as work-related stress, burnout or depression. Workers affected by stress find it difficult to concentrate, make more mistakes and are subject to more frequent accidents at work. Prolonged psychological pressure may result in serious health problems such as cardiovascular or musculoskeletal diseases, leading to poor working performance and more absenteeism. Unfortunately, like other issues related to mental health, stress may sometimes be misinterpreted or stigmatised.
In its framework Directive 89/391/EEC - On the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work – the EU provides for rules aimed at protecting the health and safety of workers, including the psychosocial risks at the workplace and related training, information and consultation of workers. In April 2014, the European Commission welcomed the ‘Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress’ campaign launched by the EU-OSHA so as to raise awareness on the psychological, physical and social risks linked to stress at work. The campaign aims at building partnerships with employers and trade union organisations, in a commitment to promote practices that manage work-related stress and psychosocial risks across Europe. The Healthy Workplaces Campaign is also backed by the EU institutions and the European social partners. For more information on the EU, one may contact MEUSAC by sending an email on info.meusac@gov.mt or alternatively by phone on 2200 3300.
MEUSAC 280 Republic Street, Valletta VLT 1112 Tel: +356 2200 3315 • Fax: +356 2200 3329 • Email: info.meusac@gov.mt www.meusac.gov.mt VOICE OF THE
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MCESD
Stress issues at work Work related stress has been identified as a growing concern both to employers and to employees. Stress can affect anyone irrespective of type of work and industry since it depends solely on the individual The effects of stress at work can be felt both by the employee and the employer. Too much stress at work can lead an employee to reduce his/her level of productivity as well as escalate tensions at work and if chronic, it can also demonstrate itself in serious physical conditions. Employers ultimately need healthy employees who use their full potential to deliver results. Workers thrive in a healthy environment leading them to be more proactive and innovative as well as contributing positively to the goals of the employer. Hence, tackling stress will lead to improved and efficient workers which ultimately
provide economic benefits to companies. A recent study entitled the European Opinion Poll on Occupational Safety and Health indicated that workers are in fact aware that certain work is very much stressful. However they still opt for such work mainly due to job security issues. Stress can be both short term, with its own negative consequences, as well as long term which inevitably is more dangerous. Awareness and understanding of stress and how one can deal with it are imperative if one is to try to
bring about a reduction in work related stress. Governments should encourage further work life balance initiatives as well as guide individuals towards using stress control mechanisms. The European Social Partners recognised the need to address the stress at work issue and have in fact signed a framework agreement which also stipulates various methods that can be used to identify, prevent and deal with work related stress. The local authority dealing with occupational health and safety, OHSA, has built on this initiative and an agreement with the Social Partners was made on the same lines.
MCESD 280/3, Republic Street, Valletta, VLT1112 Tel: (+356) 2200 3300 www.mcesd.org.mt VOICE OF THE
WORKERS
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CIA
The European Dimension Video and Campaign
Work-related stress is becoming a significant aspect of Europe’s workplaces, with the human and finacial cost on the rise. The Brussels office of the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori presents various initiatives aims at increasing awareness and creating the necessary tools to tackle this issue. Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress campaign Video link: http://goo.gl/2ZLlGq Stress and psychosocial risks at work are on the rise in Europe. Workers suffering from workrelated stress can go on to develop serious mental and physical health problems, such as burnout and depression, drug and alcohol abuse and/or poor physical health. This in turn has a serious impact on their work, their lives and on society as a whole. To counteract work-related stress and raise awareness of the problem, the European Agency for Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) has launched a campaign on stress and psychosocial risks at work. The following link redirects you to the campaign website: https://www.healthy-workplaces.eu/en
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