Stress In The Workplace, Job Stress, Occupational Stress, Job Stress Questionnaire Numerous studies show that job stress is far and away the major source of stress for American adults and that it has escalated progressively over the past few decades. Increased levels of job stress as assessed by the perception of having little control but lots of demands have been demonstrated to be associated with increased rates of heart attack, hypertension and other disorders. In New York, Los Angeles and other municipalities, the relationship between job stress and heart attacks is so well acknowledged, that any police officer who suffers a coronary event on or off the job is assumed to have a work related injury and is compensated accordingly (including a heart attack sustained while fishing on vacation or gambling in Las Vegas). You can learn more about your own job stress level by answering the following ten questions
HOW MUCH JOB STRESS DO YOU HAVE?ENTER A NUMBER FROM THE SLIDING SCALE BELOW THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOU | | STRONGLY DISAGREE | AGREE SOMEWHAT | STRONGLY AGREE | |
| | I can't honestly say what I really think or get things off my chest at work. | __________ | | My job has a lot of responsibility, but I don't have very much authority. | __________ | | I could usually do a much better job if I were given more time. | __________ | | I seldom receive adequate acknowledgment or appreciation when my work is really good. | __________ | | In general, I am not particularly proud or satisfied with my job. | __________ | | I have the impression that I am repeatedly picked on or discriminated against at work. | __________ | | My workplace environment is not very pleasant or particularly safe. | __________ | | My job often interferes with my family and social obligations or personal needs. | __________ | | I tend to have frequent arguments with superiors, coworkers or customers. | __________ | | Most of the time I feel that I have very little control over my life at work. | __________ |
Add up the replies to each question for your TOTAL JOB STRESS SCORE
If you score between 10-30, you handle stress on your job well; between 40-60, moderately well; 70-100, you’re encountering problems that need to be addressed and resolved. Job stress is also costly, with an annual price tag for U.S. businesses of over $300 billion annually due to increased absenteeism, employee turnover, diminished productivity, medical, legal and insurance expenses and Workers' Compensation payments. Put into perspective, that's ten times the cost of all strikes combined. The sources, severity and consequences of job stress vary for each of us as do the solutions for these problems. Constantly updated Informational Packets and statistics are available on these and other aspects of this complex issue. For further information see Job Stress, Type A Behavior, Job Stress And Coronary Heart Disease, Current and Past Stress Scoops and Current and Past Newsletters.
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