The Top Ten causes of stress.

            There is no way we can control the ever increasing costs of health care and drugs. However, it is definitely possible to take action to restrict the top ten causes of stress.
The main reasons of stress at workplace are:

1. workload- it is reported that employees experience stress when they are loaded with excess work or have nothing to do. Thus, managers should delegate responsibilities and help their employees rank the work according to importance.
2. Random interruptions- pagers, telephones, continuously demanding supervisors are major contributors to increased stress. The managers should delegate responsibilities, clarify expectations and teach their employees to manage time effectively. This will help in stress reduction.
3. Pervasive uncertainty- employees experience increase in stress if they have to continuously confront new procedures and requirements. The managers should find out the latest trends and keep the staff informed which will reduce stress and increase their productivity.
4. Unfairness and mistrust- these ill feelings are responsible for creating bad attitudes and are a major cause of lower productivity. Therefore, there should be open communication lines in the organization so that misunderstanding can be avoided and feedback can be obtained on the decisions taken. It is the prime duty of managers to build trust by treating everyone equally.
5. No clarity in policies and lack of direction sense- lack of fixed goals create an aura of uncertainty and weakens the employees’ trust in management. There should be a proper policy manual that exist in written form. For enforcing the policies, there should be clarity in communication. You can use different ways to ensure that everyone has understood the message. Also, policies need to be reinforced through articles, postings, meeting and memos.
6. Job and career ambiguity- people should be clear and certain about their careers and jobs. Otherwise, it creates a helplessness feeling in them. Moreover, apart from their main job description, people should understand a variety of issues affecting the company. People should be made aware of any plans of mergers, plant closings and consolidations. Management must ensure that people are kept well informed that will avoid any room for confusion.
7. Lack of feedback- In order to avoid stress, people should be continuously informed if they are performing as per expectations. Leaders should continuously affirm the efforts of individuals.
8. Lack of appreciation- it is very disheartening for the employee that he/she gets no appreciation despite putting in efforts. Companies should make a point to genuinely appraise the performance of individuals.
9. Communication gap- ineffective communication causes decreases performance and increase in stress levels. Management should ensure two- way communication that helps to reduce stress and complaints.
10. No proper system of control- stress at workplace increases tremendously when the people have no right to express themselves. Managers should listen to employees on matters affecting them.