A certain amount of stress in the workplace is necessary for maintaining
focus and achieving deadlines. However, stepping over the fine line can
result in poor performance and poor health, with stress related illness becoming the 'new backache'.
Surveys by The European Foundation show that work is becoming more intensive with half of the employees working at high speed for at least 25 per cent of their time. Many employees feel that work and the working environment has got out of control, with fewer breaks or choices of tasks.
Some employers have recognized the need for legitimate time out by
introducing the concept of "Duvet Days" where an allocated amount of days
can be used to recover from hangovers or whatever, without the need to
pretend you have the flu'.
How else can stress in the work place be managed? What can organizations do
to minimize the negative effects of stress without losing the benefits of a
touch of adrenaline?