ABSTRACT
282Inside Tips
THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF WORK
Life stress is a topic with which most of us will be familiar because it is discussed often in the popular press and media. This chapter deals primarily with worker stress: the stress that occurs at work and affects work behavior. So be careful not to confuse what you have heard from the media about life stress and what you read in this chapter. For instance, a common misconception is that all stress is bad. As you will find out, a little bit of stress can be motivating and challenging. Yet it is the negative type of stress that gets most of the attention. Another misconception is that the strategies used in dealing with stress in everyday life will also work in dealing with worker stress. This is not always the case. For example, some stressors can be alleviated by organizational changes and are therefore under the control of management, whereas others must be addressed by the individual worker. In addition, some of the techniques for dealing with stress in the workplace are not so much stress-reduction techniques as they are simply good management and human resource practices. Social scientists have had a great deal of difficulty in precisely defining and measuring stress. Be aware of this. Some of the concepts in this chapter are quite abstract and are initially difficult to understand.
This chapter fits well with Chapter 9 that focused on worker satisfaction and positive worker behaviors and attitudes. In some ways, satisfaction and stress can be opposite sides of the same coin. Jobs can create a great deal of satisfaction, contributing to a sense of well-being and “worth.” At the same time, however, jobs can subject us to uncomfortable (and potentially harmful) stress and can lead to negative attitudes and work behaviors.
