HSH725: Research Literacy on Workplace Stress Literature Review

This report provides a detailed literature review on workplace stress, exploring its various facets and implications. It begins by defining workplace stress and highlighting its increasing prevalence, citing studies that connect it to various job-related pressures and demands. The report then outlines the methodology used, including random participant selection from diverse professions and the use of questionnaires and interviews for data collection. It delves into the causes of workplace stress, categorizing them into physical and psychosocial factors such as long working hours, heavy workloads, sexual harassment, poor working conditions, and unrealistic management goals. The report also examines the signs and symptoms of workplace stress, including fatigue, mood changes, absenteeism, and decreased work quality. It then offers recommendations for managing and mitigating workplace stress, emphasizing the importance of balance between organizational expectations and individual capabilities. The report concludes by reiterating the far-reaching and consequential impacts of workplace stress, while highlighting the potential for effective management through the implementation of suggested strategies and approaches.

Workplace Stress
Introduction
Workplace is best described as places where individuals involve some form energy
input either through mental, physical and emotional to earn the source of income that is used
generally for the sustenance of their lives (Colligan, 2005). Recently, studies conducted by
various professionals established the ever-increasing rate of workplace stress emanating from
the combination of different factors that arise when individuals are in the middle of their
daily hustles (Briefing, 1999). The most common noted stress is attributed to the pressure that
is mounted onto the individuals by their bosses to deliver on specific tasks. According to the
figures and facts released, there exists proves that convinces the general public of how
workplace stresses can be handled and controlled.
Methods
Participants were selected randomly from various professions to reduce bias in the
sample of the data collected. Participants chosen had to demonstrate having undergone cases
of stress in the past that resulted majorly from the job place. Individuals had to be explicitly
drawn from non-governmental organizations and other related institutions (Abdul, 2015).
They also had to be interviewed to assess if they had the best characteristics for this case
studies. Upon picking the right participants, the questionnaires were prepared accurately and
appropriately while adequately ensuring the details required for the success of this survey
were highlighted. The questionnaires set were to be filled online for easy access and retrieval
of the intended information.
On the other hand, the selected participants were subjected to an in-depth interview by
the officials responsible for the performing of the case study. The oral data was captured by
the use of audio and recording of the video which further acted as back up data to the
questionnaires collected. Participants also had to note down their gender as this would greatly
aid in ascertaining if the stress is more prevalent to one of the genders than the other or if
they happened equally and consistently.
Reviews
Human labour is the most important and significant source of material value or
valuable quality to any organization or state. They are essential driving forces regarding the
manufacturing or service industry. Employees are hired in these departments about an
administration which includes making a critical decision that enables the organization to
attain its set mission, vision, goal and objective. However, they are obstacles that arise daily

that hinder the achieving of this set goal. Amongst the primary obstacle noted in almost every
sector that reduces maximum productivity is the workplace stress (Ahmed, 2015).
Research has continuously demonstrated and consistently the increasing amount
individuals and the state is spending on the number of persons who are experiencing
workplace stress that has adversely and dramatically affected their way of life. Stress
especially the one emanating from work has been closely associated with the demands or
pressure that employees have to adjust with to deliver timely and quality results.
Parameters that have been primarily identified as the greatest causers of workplace
stress include; deteriorated working environment, lots of workload, individuals being
detached from working with others, having trouble with the management, managerial
intimidation and difficulties relating with other employees. To begin with, workplace stress
emanates from a situation that demands individuals to do past his/her capabilities. The
individual might not be able to cope with existing pressure hence leading to the development
of the pressure. According to the survey of the various case experiments and observations
concerning how multiple institutions and organizations work, they have been directly
attributed to the different sorts of stress to individuals (Abdul, 2015). Some managers
perceive that exertion of pressure on employees is geared towards producing successful and
excellent results while on the contrary the pressure is converted into stress by some
employees especially the ones who are less adaptive. The causes of stress can be categorized
into different sub-section including the physical and the psychosocial which entirely dwells
on the mind of the individuals under consideration.
Long hours of work have been recorded as one of the critical causes of workplace
stress. It is worth noting that, individuals are expected to deliver on particular subjects or
assignment within a brief timeline. They, therefore, tend to overwork which leads to the
accumulation of fatigue and they sometimes lose interest in things that ought to please them
(Abdul, 2015). Employees additionally, in some studies conducted raised concerns about the
increased workload causing them to be overburdened.
Furthermore, sexual harassment which is most prevalent among the ladies has been
consistently and continuously mentioned to be affecting most individuals working in different
organizations. Bosses demanded or instead wanted to have sexual favours from the female
junior colleagues in the organization (Briefing, 1999). Failure to yield into these demands
would further attract harsh treatment and sometimes to the worst sacking of the individuals.
Moreover, the working condition of the employees was noted as directly contributing to the
source of their stress. Individuals who had poor and rough working places did not seem to

enjoy their jobs as compared to individuals with the conducive and serene working
environment.
There was an identification of other causative agents which includes the management
setting unrealistic and unachievable goals that need to be met by employees (Ahmed, 2015).
Studies reveal that most workers especially the junior ones were not included appropriately
during decision making and were just required to implement whatever they were expected of
by their seniors. Employees had to spend lots of time worrying about how they will attain the
set goal leading to the setting in of the stress (Bupa Healthier Workplaces, 2018). Reporting
to more than one manager was admittedly one of the chief causes of stress since in most
instances it contributed heavily to the conflict in handling and solving essential matters
regarding the task performed by individuals.
Some studies conducted classified the significant causes attributed to workplace stress
and breakdown each according to how they affected individual performance in the
organizations (Abdul, 2015). The highlighted points include the nature of the job done by the
individual either tasked with directly associating with customers, having enormous duties and
the shift with which the individual is allocated, i.e., night shift. There was also mentioning of
the management ethics preferably employed by the organization such as withdrawal of
support to the employed staff, and the unjust treatment of the workers.
There was the identification of the signs and symptoms that were exhibited by the
individuals who were undergoing these experiences. They tended to display the following
features; lots of extreme fatigue, mood changes in the event of ladies, habitual absence from
the place of work, low quality work delivered and rated low regarding performance. Besides,
individuals tended to demonstrate depression and anxiety while working. They also displayed
heart attack and openly appeared frustrated. Also, organizations also showed poor
performance and increased absenteeism by the hired staff. There is also increased witness of
the conflicts arising in the organizations. The were some causative agents were directly
responsible for causing health problems to the clients, and they include; longevity associated
with working, reduced salary paid to the employees, the senior's behaviours and attitudes
towards the junior employees especially the seniors embracing intimidation and blackmail as
a way of managing their juniors. Research has consistently insisted on the direct effect caused
by the variables that cause job stress on the health of the employee. Employees who lack
personal ability and capability to manage the stress end up depressed and this may be the
cause of the early death to some individuals who are unable to control the situation
thoroughly and wholly.

Recommendation
On the contrary, scientists have developed alternatives which can aid individuals to
reduce the chances of developing job stress and also how to deal with workplace stress if it
unfortunately arises. Although it has been proven that some individuals may perform
excellently and correctly when they are exerted certain pressure, and in the event if they have
to multi-task, it is worth noting that some jobs and situation may be enormous to deal with,
hence an individual may be defeated trying to solve the condition which results in stress
(Abdul, 2015). They are a form of strategies and tactics which if employed correctly can
ideally lead to individual evading workplace stress. Balance should be enhanced between the
expectations and demands of the organization. People can manage certain things as a result of
having individual abilities and attributes which can enable in coping up with the presented
circumstances. Studies reveal there has been an introduction of various strategies by scientists
that have been offered as best alternatives in dealing with the introduced stress and they
include the adoption of psychological and physiological tactic since stress is in-built.
Individuals can also work on their perceived individual expectations and demands to reduce
the impact of stressing themselves.
Conclusion
Workplace stress occurs daily, and statistics have shown that it’s ever-increasing in
organizations and institutions mostly because of having pressure to deliver on individual
results. The impacts associated with this type of stress are far-reaching and consequential. It
costs firms and individuals lots of funds when it comes to handling the effects it brings to
persons and these organizations. However, the good news is that stress of any type can be
better managed and controlled if there is the employment of the best-suggested strategies and
approaches.

References
Abdul, C. (2015). Stress and Health at the Workplace-A Review of the Literature.
Ahmed, A. (2015). Workplace Stress: A Critical Insight of Causes, Effects, and Interventions.
Briefing. (1999). BMJ, 318(7175), pp.3a-3a.
Bhui, K. (2014). Perceptions of work stress causes and effective interventions in employees.
Colligan, T. (2005). Workplace Stress: Etiology and Consequences.
Hoboubi, N. (2016). The Impact of Job Stress and Job Satisfaction on Workforce
Productivity in an Iranian Petrochemical Industry.
Corporate Wellness Magazine. (2018). The Effects of Workplace Stress on Your Health –
And What To Do About It!. [online] Available at:
https://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/mental-health/effects-workplace-stress-
health/ [Accessed 6 Dec. 2018].
The Conversation. (2018). The power of control and reducing stress at work. [online]
Available at: https://theconversation.com/the-power-of-control-and-reducing-stress-
at-work-9765 [Accessed 6 Dec. 2018].
Bupa Healthier Workplaces. (2018). Workplace stress management strategies for business
managers » Bupa Healthier Workplaces. [online] Available at:
https://www.bupahealthierworkplaces.com.au/employer/workplace-stress-
management-strategies/ [Accessed 6 Dec. 2018].