Is Workplace Stress a Modern Epidemic?

Remember when 5PM meant the end of a workday?    As a result of  factors such as the economy, job insecurity, or even employer demands, employees remain tethered to work 24/7 through their iphones or Blackberrys.   Face it, we're plugged in and the technology makes us accountable for every moment of our day (just a thought, but working 24/7 shouldn't be a badge of honor).   Let's stop pretending that employees, or you, don't have lives outside of the office and consider how these nonstandard work schedules impact the modern employee and family.
 

Stress is a built-in condition and we're hardwired for it.  In the workplace, those stressors can come from multiple areas or just one.  Workload, lack of appreciation, isolation, conflict, mistrust, lack of direction or just pervasive uncertainty.   When those stressors in your life are always present, it impacts both physical and emotional health. 

Research statistics provided by Statistic Brain in April 2012 (source: American Psychological Association, American Institute of Stress) gave employers an insight into the Top Causes of Stress in the U.S.  The #1 cause of job stress in the U.S. is Job Pressure with contributing factors such as co-worker tension, bosses, and work overload.  

• 77% of the respondents indicated that they regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress.
• 73% regularly experience psychological symptoms caused by stress.
• 48% feel their stress level has increased over the past five years.

 Additional statistics relating to the impact of stress:

• 48% of respondents say stress has a negative impact on their personal and professional life.
• 31% have difficulty managing work and family responsibilities.
• 30% say they are "always" or "often" under stress at work.

Let's talk about stress's nasty side affects.  Physical symptoms reported by respondents as a result of stress:

• 51% experienced fatigue
• 44% headache
• 34% upset stomach
• 30% muscle tension.

with reported Psychological Symptoms:

• 50% irritability or anger,
• 45% feeling nervous
• 45% lack of energy
• 35% feeling as though they could cry.

Annual costs to employers in stress related health care and missed work?  $300 Billion.

If you want to disregard all of the statistics above, the CDC released their own set of statistics regarding Prescription Anti-Anxiety Drug Use in the U.S. for the period 1988 - 2008.  Think the workforce isn't stressed?  The results by CDC reflected a steady increase in the use of prescription anti-anxiety drugs.  Use by adult women increased from 4% to 5.70% between 2002 - 2008.   Adult population use in 1994 was 2.8%, by 2008 there was an increase to 4.50%.

Let's all take a vacation!  Who's with me?

http://www.statisticbrain.com/stress-statistics/