ABSTRACT

This chapter provides a brief introduction to work stress and considers the trends in the aviation industry that have intensified aircrew workloads and working hours. Stress is the psychological and physical state that result when the resources of the individual are insufficient to cope with the demands and pressure of the situation. The negative effects of stress include physical ones—raised blood pressure, heart disease, headaches, nausea and indigestion. The chapter presents strategies to help individuals achieve a work-life balance and examines a 'mini-theory' on how to 'make personal life fit work' based on accounts given by cabin crew and flight crew across major United Kingdom and European airlines. When work related pressures compete with activities outside of work or vice versa, there is a work-life conflict. For organisations, work-life conflict is associated with absenteeism, high staff turnover, reduced performance and lower organisational commitment.