Are You A Stressed-Out Employee?

Employee stress is at an all-time high. Workers are being squeezed for more and more productivity. They worry about down-sizing and job security. Since September 11, 2001, more people have been experiencing higher levels of free-floating anxiety. There are also more two-career couples, more working single parents and more employees caring for elderly parents.

Why do organizations care about employee stress? Because businesses lose 200-300 billion dollars per year, due to stress-related problems. Chronic stress can also contribute to higher incidences of workplace injury.

Answer the following questions to find out if you are a stressed-out employee:

1. Do you consistently work late?

2. Do you work through lunch and through sickness?

3. Do you seem more fatigued than usual?

4. Do you take work home?

5. Do you rush to meet deadlines?

6. Do you frequently express frustration?

7. Do you avoid vacations?

8. Do you appear increasingly cynical, forgetful or irritable?

9. Do you try too hard to please a new boss?

10. Have you relocated from a distant location?

11. Have you recently experienced a disappointment or failure at work?

12. Have you experienced a significant family transition or trauma?

If you have answered yes to three or more of any of these questions, you are probably experiencing an undue amount of workplace stress.

A word to managers: Having fun and professionalism are not incompatible and fun is a great stress-reliever. If you let fun happen, it will energize, motivate and keep quality people on your team.