Cause of stress in workplace

• Three main factors

  1. Role of conflict
  2. Effects on work environment
  3. Level of control
• Intra role conflict


  when employees role in workplace involves competing demands, happens when roles poorly defined (Employee must report to 2 managers, could happen when managers insist an employee performs incompatible tasks) Two projects can't be consistent at same time
• Inter role conflict

  When a person has 2 roles with competing demands, one work-related, other outside workplace. (Work responsibilities and school responsibilities)
• Temperature

  Common stressor, Hot workplaces associated with negative outcomes (stress and agression). Being too cold is a negative stimulus leading to distress/stress
• Noise

  Common stressor, loud noise can be stressful because loud noise is unpleasant. Uncontrollable noises particularly stressful because lack of control- key factor in stress
• Level control

  Having control of situation enables more choices, stress felt negatively when situation is appraised, something we cannot cope or control.
• Workload

  Common factor related to control, can lead to ill-health, job satisfaction and absenteeism, effects of workload greater for individual who perceives they have no control.
• Perception

  Is key, individual may have very little control but if they perceive they do, evokes less stress. Or an employee, may have some control, perceives they do not and evoke more stress.
• Evaluation for control: strength

  Research confirms importance of experience of stress

  ·Bosma et al (1997) studied 10,000 British civil servants in wide range of job grades. Found that workload was not significant workplace stressor, but lack of control was. Employees who reported low job control at start of study were more likely to have heart disease 5 years later. These findings show lacking job control is significant stressor that can lead to serious stress-related illness.
• Evaluation control: weakenss

  Role of job control depends upon culture:

  Gyorkos et al (2012) reviewed earlier research and found that lack of job control is considered stressful in individualistic cultures (USA/UK). But control was seen as less desirable in collectivist cultures (China).

  Therefore, concept of job control may be limited to Western societies, reflecting cultural ideas of personal rights.
• Evaluating workplace as a cause of stress

  ·         Good practical application

  ·         Employees can reduce problems like absenteeism by giving employees a level of control

  ·         Or giving clearly defined roles, which avoid conflict

  ·         Factors like noise and temp can be reduced