Stress Is Not Always Unhealthy

30 Sep 2009 00:00 IST

New Update

TeamLease Services released the findings of its latest survey, “stress at
workplace”. Seventh in a series of surveys commissioned by TeamLease, it aims to
understand India's new 'world of work'.

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Overall 61 percent respondents feel that stress at work is healthy. Around
three-fourth respondents in Pune and Bengaluru reiterated the same. In Mumbai
and Ahmedabad there are equally mixed responses.

Over 65 percent of respondents from departments of operations, marketing and
sales feel that stress is healthy, probably because of the nature of work
involved with their job function. HR/Administration departments reported the
lowest response of 52 percent.

'Amount of work to be performed' and 'managing others' work' are the biggest
causes of stress which result in dissatisfaction. 'Keeping up with technology',
closely followed by the 'attitude of spouse/partner' are also add-ons that
create negative emotions.

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Over two-third respondents did not feel that carrying work home causes any
kind of stress. To cope up with stress, over two-third of respondents try to
recognize their limitations or faults at work and take corrective action. Least
of the options considered are 'taking a few days off' (48 percent) and 'looking
out for a new job' (45 percent).

60 percent respondents said that their company conducted 'employee
satisfaction survey' periodically to comprehend and combat workplace stress.
'Confidential counselling' is the next best remedy offered by the companies.
Offering 'health club membership' to employees (31 percent) is an incentive not
too popular with organizations.

Among the cities surveyed, Ahmedabadis came across as most satisfied with
various facets of their work life, like relationship with colleagues, conflict
resolution, amount of work, level of salary, amount of flexibility and work
environment. Puneites were the least satisfied.

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CITY WISE
HIGHLIGHTS:

Ahmedabad

51 percent respondents believe stress is healthy
90 percent are comfortable with relationship, conflict resolution,
amount of work, level of salary, amount of flexibility and environment at
their workplace. Only 6 percent feel stressed while taking work home
Looking out for another job is not in vogue in Ahmedabad, only six
percent opt for it, lowest among the cities

Chennai

Only 40 percent are satisfied with their level of salary
Three-fourth of respondents don't feel any stress due to long working
hours
36 percent look out for another job in order to do away with stress;
highest among the cities

Hyderabad

64 percent feel stressed, while making decisions
18 percent suppress emotions when stressed; seeking support is mantras
to cope up with stress (69 percent)

Mumbai

77 percent respondents feel stressed due to relationship with other
people
91 percent believe formulating formal policy will help in dealing with
stress

Bengaluru

72 percent respondents believe stress is healthy. Highest among the
cities
52 percent feel their company is stable and has taken good care of
them
74 percent feel pressurized keeping up with advancements in technology
Only 50 percent of the respondents in Bengaluru try to identify their
faults in order to cope up with stress

New Delhi

Apart from the 'amount of work' (73 percent), other major cause of
stress for Delhi employees is the 'lack of influence' (71 percent)
Majority of Delhiites feels pressurized by inadequate guidance,
keeping up with advances in technology, ambiguity in nature of job,
inadequate/poor training and spouse's/partner's attitude
75 percent feel stressed, when working with the opposite sex
69 percent believe formulating formal policy will not help in dealing
with stress

Kolkata

78 percent get most stressed when asked to manage other people's work
Only eight percent feel stress due to personality clash at workplace
Only eight percent feel like taking few days off in order to cope up
with stress, or taking to any physical activity (30 percent); least among
the cities
90 percent believe formulating formal policy will help in dealing with
stress

Pune

Pune is the least satisfied when it comes to relationship with
colleagues, conflict resolution, amount of work,level of salary, amount of
flexibility and environment at their workplace
74 percent believe they are over-worked

Office politics and lack of power / influence seem to stress Delhites more
than their counterparts in other cities. Overall, 68 percent respondents feel
that companies should 'formulate policies' to identify and help employees deal
with stress. Over 90 percent respondents from Mumbai and Kolkata share this
opinion. 31 percent respondents from Delhi feel that formulating a formal policy
will not be redundant in dealing with stress.

'Headache' and 'inability to get sleep' are the two main symptoms that
respondents face when stressed. Against the popular belief, only 30 percent
respondents felt like smoking under stress. Around 27 percent respondents
admitted resorting to physical violence under stress — a low response reflecting
unacceptability of such means to alleviate stress levels.

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Showing a good level of camaraderia around 60 percent employees tried to help
their stressed out colleagues through various means like rendering advices,
moral support, financial support, counseling or working with them to find areas
of improvement.

The study undertaken across key cities in India revealed that stress has
become such a usual factor of work life that majority (61 percent) of the
respondents found it healthy. The figures raised up to 65 percent for employees
from sales, marketing and operations functions. The survey points out that
exposure to constant stress in many functions might well be the cause of such an
altered belief.

However, recognizing their own limitations/fault at work and taking
corrective action is the most sought-out option to cope with stress. Taking a
break from work (few days off) or looking for another job were considered as the
least preferred solutions to workplace stress.

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According to Surabhi Mathur-Gandhi, General Manager, Permanent Staffing,
TeamLease Services, “The popular notion of stress as a negative force that
causes discontentment and discord may be outdated. Our survey captures the
bittersweet -- but mostly sweet — feelings around workplace stress and coping
mechanisms that probably represent the 'youthification' of India's workforce.
This generation and cohort views stress as feedback for change but obviously
human resource groups in companies have to be vigilant about striking the right
balance.”