April 13, 2011. It’s the time of year when the working world is moving into full swing. The pace at the office is really picking up, but you’re up for it . . . and arrive at work ready to take on the challenges of the day and do your bit.
But then there’s that thing, or that person who just wrecks it all and knocks you off your stride . . . how will you deal with the pressure?
Health24 brings us these worst of the worst office stressors. Included from research by the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health, comes the the top five stressors: lack of control; lack of communication; no appreciation; no feedback; and job uncertainty.
10 horrible workplace stressors
Here are 10 further stressors that could be making your employees consider resignation:
Unilateral decisions: The time for top-down management is over. If you have a boss who foists decisions on employees without ever consulting them, it may be time to jack up your CV and put out the word about your availability.
The radio: There are few more irritating things than having to listen to some radio station all day. Especially if they play the kind of music over and over again that you would never have chosen to listen to in the first place. The endless jingles, the endless ads – pure torture.
Endless meetings: In any workplace there is the chance of meetings. But they don’t have to be endless and can be run efficiently. It’s a good idea to limit the duration of the meeting beforehand. And to have a clear agenda. Otherwise it just becomes an excuse for the office bore to ramble on and on.
Workplace affairs: You’ve come across Mrs Bennett and Mr Jackson kissing each other in the storeroom. As far as you know, they’re both married. And if this blows up, there’s going to be a chilly atmosphere in the office. Office affairs place enormous stress on all colleagues. Should they tell the spouses, or not? Does this make them accomplices? Do they lie to cover up where these two really are? And then, of course, it inevitably all comes to an end. Or even worse, it doesn’t.
Irritating habits: Whether it’s obsessive throat clearing, loud personal telephone conversations, gossiping, chewing gum, laughing, or sniffing – people have irritating habits that can really grate. Spending eight hours per day with someone who drives you round the bend, is enough to make your stress levels go through the roof. Be tactful, but you can say something. Remember, you all have to live, together sharing office space. Don’t burn bridges, perhaps you can make a deal to get along better.
Unhealthy canteen food: Canteen food is about feeding the masses – quickly and cheaply. It’s alarming, but the truth is, generally, health doesn’t really come into it. If you take a look at the grease content of the average canteen portion of food, most dishes should be renamed heart-attack-on-a-plate. Watch out for those unwanted tummy bugs, as well; nothing worse than running to the toilet faster than the Umgeni flows in rain season.
Backstabbing: This is a classic. There’s always at least one in every office, that evil person who cannot get ahead without backstabbing their colleagues and, even, their mates. Be the nice guy in the office, but watch your back . . . always.
Faulty equipment: In order to get a job done, the right equipment is essential. Not necessarily top-of-the-range, but halfway there would be nice. And when it breaks down, it is very demoralising when the company expects its employees to limp on with a printer that prints every third page blank or a photocopier that swallows documents. Deadlines cannot be met without working equipment.
All work and no pay: Stress levels tend to escalate when your company expects you to walk the extra mile or five, but when it comes to negotiating your salary package, it stays put and won’t budge. Employees who feel underpaid or undervalued quickly become disgruntled and demotivated, and they certainly don’t contribute to the general atmosphere in an office or workshop. It’s an added burden when you feel you’re getting a raw deal.
Big talk, no do: In any workplace there will be someone who has grandiose ideas that never come to fruition. Or that have to be made a reality by the other employees, often yourself. This places stress on other employees, because it often becomes their responsibility to make these impossible things happen at short notice. And guess who takes the credit for it in the end? Time to go back on holiday.
(Susan Erasmus, Health24)