Why should you Manage Stress at Work?

Stress can be Toxic to Oneself and Others.

Avoiding stress has been identified as one of the most important risks in the current workplace landscape, and reducing work stress is one of the main challenges to improve the safety and health of workers.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) refers to work-related stress as:

“A dangerous disease for industrialized and developing economies; damaging production by affecting the physical and mental health of workers.”

The human costs of stress are significant; for example, approximately 15% of cardiovascular diseases in men and 20% of women are work-related stress. Other stress-related illnesses include musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal disorders, and mental health problems.

Is stress always bad?

Stress can be divided into two classifications:

• Positive stress or eustress increases performance and motivation.
• Negative stress or distress decreases performance, well-being and is the source of unpleasant symptoms and illnesses.

A minimum level of stress can be positive (Eustress), stimulating the body to achieve goals and overcome a point of pressure. A higher…