Stress at work is nothing new, but it's getting to the point for some that they're ready to quit and look for another gig.
A survey by Randstrad Engagement offered further proof that stress seems to be growing among workers despite the improving economy. The survey also validated earlier data that indicated women suffer more from workplace stress than do men.
Randstad found that workplace stress trails only to inadequate pay and lack of career opportunities as a factor in quitting a job. Further, 27 percent of women survey cited stress as the reason they quit, compared to 22 percent of male respondents.
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Stress as a major factor in a resignation cuts across all generations, Randstad found, as a quarter of millennials, GenXers and baby boomers agreed that stress was the No. 1 reason for quitting a job.
What were the factors behind workplace stress?
- Low pay
- Awful commute
- Unreasonable workload
- Annoying coworkers
- Poor work-life balance
- Working in a job outside one's chosen career
- Lack of opportunity for advancement
- The boss
- Layoff/firing fear
The implications for management are fairly clear, Randstad said: If stress on the job isn't addressed, you're liable to lose your best employees.
"It's crucial for managers to understand there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing the problem of stress in the workplace, and some employees are more susceptible to stress than others," said Jim Link, Chief HR Officer at Randstad North America. "The good news about workplace stress is that it can be managed, especially when employers provide support – and that starts with being well-connected to your workers. Companies can impact employee stress by communicating regularly with workers to identify their concerns and establishing wellness programs that make healthy stress management a top priority across the organization."
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
