Stress in the workplace: an analysis

Abstract

Stress in the workplace is threatening the mental and physical health of employees all around the world. More and more researchers and human resource consultants are attempting to quantify how workplace and how high is pervasive stress is in the it's potential cost. Their endeavors point to some disturbing trends. With stress and its impact on a company's bottom line clearly on the rise, employers are scrambling to identify its causes. A number of trends and developments in recent years seem to emerge as the culprits. These range from humiliating bossess, to meeting unrealisitic targets, heavy workload, downsizing, long working hours, gender discrimination, lack of communication, stunted career growth and no autonomy in decision-making. The sample for this research is taken from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Random convenience sampling was the technique used and the sample size was 100. Data collected for the research was through a questionnaire , which was distributed among respondents of various age groups and on the basis of gender and organizational type (Governmental and Multinational). Descriptive statistical measures were used to interpret the data. Results of this survey verified, that the variables and sources identified as the cause of workplace stress were indeed related to the various aspects of the lives of employees, whether work-oriented or otherwise. The researcher interpreted the data and gave recommendations to avoid such stressful situations at the workplace as much as possible.