Reducing Job-Related Stress

Sources of Job-Related Stress

According to a study by Lluminari, four factors have a major influence on employee stress:

• High demand: having too much to do in a short time
• High effort: having to expand too much mental or physical energy over too long a period
• Low control: having too little influence over the way a job is done on a day-to-day basis
• Low reward: receiving inadequate feedback on performance and no recognition for a job well done

Tips to reduce job-related stress

• Build rewarding relationships with co-workers
• Talk openly with managers or employees about job or personal concerns
• Prepare for the future by keeping abreast of likely changes in job demands
• Don’t greatly exceed your skills and abilities
• Set realistic deadlines; negotiate reasonable deadlines with managers
• Act now on problems or concerns of importance
• Designate dedicated work periods during which time interruptions are avoided
• When feeling stressed, find time for  detachment or relaxation
• Don’t let trivial items take on importance; handle them quickly or assign them to others
• Take short breaks from your work area as a change of pace