Tuesday, May 31, 2011
stress @ work
It's one of those hypocritical issues stress at work because while practically everybody says it's bad for you, studies show it's a killer when push comes to shove nobody really cares about it or does anything about it. Boss (holding general meeting of staff at 9AM): "I realize workplace stress is an important issue to address so if there's anything I can do to make your day go better please let me know." Well no, certain work has to be done and done in a timely fashion, other work has to be completed not tomorrow but today. The honchos are coming in later, the suits are gonna go over everything with a fine toothcomb and this is your typical average American workday. When stress is addressed again we realize it's A Bad Thing but the problem is most likely YOU, don't let it get to you and btw you don't have to come in at 6:30AM anymore because we realize you also require so many hours of sleep again for reasons of health. The modern paradox, we all realize one's health is extremely important but it's the nature of the business world that nothing can really be done about it and if it leads to an early grave you can always be replaced. The wake information will be posted of course but the show must go on. When was the last time the issue was addressed at your place? No, put your political gavel down for a minute and think about it, Herman Cain and Ron Paul and Mitt Romney can wait. It's not so much my stress at work but I feel as if through osmosis the stress of others, that tense vibe going through the place and I'm thinking it doesn't have to be that way but it is. Health and Work, two worlds apart:)
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It's a trickle down thing, your boss is getting the same stress from his or her boss, it is what it is.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I hear, they want to up the retirement age to 75. If, as Marx
ReplyDeletenoted, labor is a commodity, it seems a flexible one....
It's a contradictory thing. We go home at night and Katie Couric tells us (or used to tell us) that stress and especially workplace stress is one of the nation's #1 killers. You roll over the channels and Brian Williams is talking the same thing. In fact it leads the News and you go to work the next day and nobody mentions it and you're like where's the Big Meeting?
ReplyDeleteI would think not having work is more stressful, and I have had some jerks for bosses, too, I just don't let them get to me.
ReplyDeleteBut you do have men in their 40's who don't make goal and wake up one morning in their bed and their wife is calling them downstairs for eggs and coffee and they're just lying there dead from a heart attack. You can actually research certain companies and see the history of early deaths. As for bosses I don't let them get to me either, in fact I'm selectively sarcastic when they start getting out of line but they obviously do get to some. I believe they're known as toxic people.
ReplyDeleteBest to avoid toxic people in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, I still debate libs online, maybe one day I'll learn.
I think most of us conclude about stress in the workplace and stress in general that it is incumbent on the sufferer to not let it get to them but what about those who ain't as strong as us? Those who create a stressful workplace environment, imo they bear a large moral share of the blame of causing other people health problems if they ensue. Of course cause-and-effect can sometimes be hard to prove but I swear there are people who we associate with on a daily basis and we don't digest our food properly when they're around for example. There's an old old saying and it applies - YOU'RE KILLING ME.
ReplyDeleteZ-Man,
ReplyDeleteSince I have Experienced some Depression in my Earlier Years, I Know exactly what you are saying about "those who ain't as strong as us", yet for me it is "What about those who..." are as Weak as I Once Was. I Know First Hand what it is Like and People are Quite Judgmental about the Fact that the Weak "Should be" Stronger then they are and that it is "All their Fault". Such an Attitude is not Helpful.
There is another side to this, though. I have Tried to Convince the Judgmental to Stop it and some of them just won't, which Leaves the Weak to Fend for themselves Emotionally the Best that they Can, without the Help of the Strong. Everything is Easier when we Share the Work Load, as well as the Responsibility and the Blame for Discouragement, Poor Morale and Emotional Stress. If Only Life was Easier, but it's just not.
Sorry I've been Away from your Blog so Long, Z. I'll Try and do better, though we are now Leaving on a Vacation soon.
The onus if you will is always put on the stressed out to better handle the stress but how 'bout those who are a cause of stress for others? never addressed and as for ignoring annoying and otherwise boorish co-workers how do you pretend they don't exist? That demanding boss of yours, can you pretend he's invisible?
ReplyDeleteExactly Z,
ReplyDeleteEveryone is Responsible both for how they Handle Stress and also how much Stress they Contribute to in Others. We will all be Held Accountable One Day, Probably more for the Later, than for the Former.
You Can't Avoid People you Work With. The Work itself sometimes Requires that you Talk to them. You Can't Avoid Costumers. You are Required to Serve them and to do so with as Positive of an Attitude as Possible. You can't Avoid your Boss. You are Required to Listen to him and do as he Says and if he Expects a lot, you are Required to Meet those Expectations.
No, Unfortunately, in some Situations, Avoidance is not a Workable Option.
One Last Thought: Those who do not Cope with Stress Well will Suffer the Consequences for their Weakness here on Earth, yet those who Contribute to their Stress will Suffer the Consequences on Judgment Day, just as the Bible Says.
"But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." (Matthew 19:30, KJV)
We're on the same wavelength here and that is the point of the whole thread, that others contribute to the stress of their co-workers thereby negatively impacting their health and that this whole issue of stress is never even addressed in too many workplaces. You can sure as hell try putting the traditional advice into practice, that is don't let it get to you but unless you're a practicing Buddhist how do you do this exactly? most of us just have a drink at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Don't Give Buddhists the Credit for the Creation of Calm. The Christian Practice of Prayer is Effective as well.
ReplyDeleteI work in such a workplace that if the Dalai Lama worked here for a month he'd be dropping the f-bomb on the third day.
ReplyDelete