According to several Health and Safety Executive studies performed between 2004 and 2007 stress at work and it's many impacts is becoming quiet the problem in today's society. The uk government have found that where jobs lack coherent design and work is poorly organised work related stress can be the common result. Stress is directly experienced when the demands of job exceed the employee's capacity to cope with it. This can be catastrophic to a company or organisation and sickness absence, high staff turnover and human error are some of the resulting issues that can arise. Although organisations and companies are encouraged to review and change their work behaviours to better meet the individual needs of employees and to help them to flourish, accountability must also lie to a degree with employees, the simple question of whether an employee can handle a fair amount of work must be asked when trying to determine where the real cause.
Out of work issues can also have an impact on an individual's well being at work and therefore employee's must take responsbility in developing a strong and healthy state of mind and body at home.
One odd way that has been found in helping to alleviate stress is through computer games, especially those that allow people to channel much energy into them. An online game that aims to help people do so is known as Don't Whack Your Boss and features an employee being harassed by his boss relentlessly at his desk. In the game you can pick many different ways to whack your boss to get him to shut up and leave you alone. This cartoon violence game may seem a bit controversial but many gamers have actually said that it has worked in helping them unwind from a stressful day at work, in particular when that stress has been caused by a poor relationship with their boss.Of course there are also more 'normal ways' to alleviate stress such as cardiovascular exercise which helps people relax and unwind through expelling energy in intensive formssuch as running, cycling or swimming. Perhaps a combination of both games and exercise are the best way to help promote health outside a work place.
In conclusion a company, organisation or individual are never solely responsible for stress at work, it will always be a combination of factors which all need taking care of if we are all to enjoy a good and low stress working life. Yes organisations can demand too much from their employees, but the way in which we tackle this is better improved by the ability of employees to manage this temporarily poor work practice and to help the organisation better understand the employee's needs. This will allow more realistic working practices to be developed quickly and fluidly. At the same time the employee must acknowledge that their will always be a degree of stress at work, which is why they will be paid a reasonable salary, to deal with the pressures of a competitive work environment and to help the company compete in their market place in the private sector or better provide citizens with a vital service in the public sector.
