Organizational Behavior (Stephen Robbins)

104

OB ON THE EDGE

The inset Tips for Reducing Stress

offers additional ideas for reducing

stress.

Organizational

Approaches

Employees who work at Toronto-

based BCS Communications, a pub-

lishing, advertising, and public

relations agency, receive biweekly shi-

atsu massages, paid for by the com-

pany. The company spends about

$700 a month for the massages,

equivalent to the amount it used to

spend providing coffee to the employ-

ees. “It’s in my company’s best inter-

est to have my employees be healthy,”

says Caroline Tapp-McDougall, the

BCS group publisher.^40

Vancouver-based QLT, which

develops pharmaceuticals that are

activated when exposed to light, has

an in-house gym and offers aerobics

and stretch classes and Friday-

morning shiatsu massage treatments

to its employees. QLT’s cafeteria has

healthy food choices, and Weight

Watchers products. Robyn Crisanti,

a QLT spokesperson, explains the

company’s investment in wellness:

“Corporate wellness is good for

employees and there is a lot of

research that shows healthy employ-

ees take fewer sick days and are more

productive.”^41 The programs also

make it easier for QLT to attract tal-

ented employees.

Most firms that have introduced

wellness programs have found sig-

nificant benefits. Health Canada

reports that businesses get back

$3.39 for each corporate dollar they

invest in wellness initiatives. For indi-

viduals with three to five risk factors

(such as high cholesterol, being over-

weight, or smoking) the return was

$2.04 for each dollar spent.^42 The

savings come about because there is

less turnover, greater productivity,

and reduced medical claims.^43 About

64 percent of Canadian companies

surveyed by Health Canada offered

some sort of wellness initiative,

including stop-smoking programs,

stress courses, and back-pain man-

agement programs; 17.5 percent of

companies offered on-site wellness

programs.^44

So what can organizations do to

reduce employee stress? In general,

strategies to reduce stress include

improved processes for choosing

employees, placement of employees

in appropriate jobs, realistic goal set-

ting, designing jobs with employee

needs and skills in mind, increased

employee involvement, improved

organizational communication, and,

as mentioned, establishment of cor-

porate wellness programs.

Certain jobs are more stressful

than others, but individuals also dif-

fer in their response to stress situa-

tions. We know, for example, that

individuals with little experience or

an external locus of control tend to

be more prone to stress. Selection

and placement decisions should take

these facts into consideration.

Although management should not

restrict hiring to only experienced

individuals with an internal locus of

control, such individuals may adapt

better to high-stress jobs and perform

those jobs more effectively.

Research shows that individuals

perform better when they have spe-

cific and challenging goals and

receive feedback on how well they

are progressing toward them.^45 The

use of goals can reduce stress as well

as provide motivation. Specific goals

that are perceived as attainable clar-

ify performance expectations.

Additionally, goal feedback reduces

uncertainties as to actual job per-

formance. The result is less employee

frustration, role ambiguity, and stress.

Creating jobs that give employees

more responsibility, more meaning-

ful work, more autonomy, and

increased feedback can reduce stress

because these factors give the

employee greater control over work

activities and lessen dependence on

others. Of course, not all employees

want jobs with increased responsi-

bility. The right job for employees

with a low need for growth might be

less responsibility and increased spe-

cialization. If individuals prefer struc-

ture and routine, more structured

jobs should also reduce uncertain-

ties and stress levels.

One idea that has received con-

siderable recent attention is allow-

ing employees to take short naps

during the workday.^46 Nap time,

apparently, isn’t just for preschool

kids any more! An increasing num-

ber of companies are finding that

allowing employees to catch 10 to 30

minutes of sleep in the afternoon

• At least two or three times a
  week, spend time with sup-
  portive friends or family.


• Ask for support when you are
  under pressure. This is a sign
  of health, not weakness.


• If you have spiritual or reli-
  gious beliefs, increase or
  maintain your involvement.


• Use a variety of methods to
  reduce stress. Consider exer-
  cise, nutrition, hobbies, posi-
  tive thinking, and relaxation
  techniques such as medita-
  tion or yoga.

Source: J. Lee, “How to Fight That

Debilitating Stress in Your Workplace,”

The Vancouver Sun,April 5, 1999,

p. C3. Reprinted with permission.

Tips for Reducing

Stress