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Work Stress
Work-related stress is the result of a conflict between the role and needs of the individual employee and organisational, personal or ergonomic factors in their work place. There can also be an unacceptable tension between the demands of work and the individuals' life outside work. Stress is also often typified by a lack of control over conditions at work. Stress - Workload - Well-being: The following extracts come from a report on the 5th European Hazards Conference: The growth of the European social dimension and the effects of worker migration, work organisation, automation, technological development, changes in communication and education have created a greater public expectation and awareness. Multi-national business could take advantage of differing working practices and varying levels of protection. Conflicts are created through the opening of European frontiers to provide free-flow of products, to differing national standards and levels of protection. Greater mobility of workers within the EU requires wider standardisation of health protection and working conditions. There are increasing levels of stress and absenteeism from the workplace. In 1991/92 the First European Survey on the Work Environment showed a clear north/south division within the EU, where "better" working conditions exist in the northern countries. The survey was carried out on behalf of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, and consideration of cultural, socio-economic and political and policy differences should be included. The EU divides into three cluster groups: 1 Belgium, Denmark, West Germany, UK, Luxembourg, Netherlands Within group 1 a good supportive infrastructure exists providing training, information, appropriate equipment and premises. Working conditions provide considerable autonomy (service industries) and time pressures that are industry linked. Within group 2 longer working hours, high pressures and physical constraints (such as temperature, heavy loads and risk of injury/pollution create a working environment in which health is much more at risk than elsewhere. Within group 3 an in-between situation exists although problems associated with poor workplace design, over long hours or lack of adequate training and support are common. In summary, within the European Union organisational constraints have a greater impact on workers than physical ones. Within the EU Work-Stress is a major factor affecting workers:
35-40% of workers have a lack of influence over their work; 25% (full time) and 60% (part time) of workers experience regular repetitive
tasks. women have much less autonomy and are more involved in repetitive tasks; long hours and greater pressures are more common for men. |
