Solutions to the Top Work Related Causes of Stress
1) Whistle-Blowing – Blowing the whistle on a corporation or higher level employer who is doing something illegal is the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, but it can cause people to deal with an enormous amount of stress. It is a good idea to protect yourself by ensuring that you not only have incontrovertible evidence of your claim, but also consult with a legal team such as Goldberg Kohn to be aware of your legal rights and responsibilities.
2) Bullying – Even though most people like to believe that bullying is a behavior that is left on the playground, it is actually something that can occur during every stage of life. If you are a victim of bullying, your work place will be turned into a hostile environment. It is important to let your supervisors know what is happening. While you may want to look into alternative employment options, you can help relieve some of your stress in the meantime by talking to a trained counselor.
3) Fighting with Co-Workers – Most workplace arguments will end relatively quickly, but these fights can occasionally turn into a major problem. You need to explore the proper methods for resolving the fight. You can also help calm the situation down by asking a supervisor or HR representative to mediate a discussion with both parties. You should also take some time to determine whether or not you are actually causing the fights by using language that is deemed to be harsh or condescending.
4) Sexual Harassment – One of the most stressful workplace situations that anyone can deal with is sexual harassment. If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself dealing with sexual harassment at work, you should notify your supervisor or HR department immediately. If that does not work, it is important to look into getting legal representation. After all, your health is always more important than your job, and the stress that is caused by sexual harassment can have physical and mental side effects.
5) High Pressure Environment – Some jobs are just naturally more stressful than others. After all, if you are a police officer or an air traffic controller, you are going to spend the majority of your day dealing with the stress of keeping other people safe. If you are in this situation, you should consider talking to a counselor every week and learning relaxation techniques.
Regardless of the type of stress that you are dealing with, it is vital to find ways to relieve the tension that it causes. After all, if you develop physical or emotional issues as a result of your job, you will no longer be able to take care of all of your personal responsibilities.
Freelancer Kari Lloyd writes on a variety of work-related topics and contributes to many publications both on and offline. For more information on issues and legal rights concerning whistleblowing, the Goldberg Kohn website makes an excellent starting point.