Work-related stress has become part of the modern job description in many fast-paced and high-stressed organizations around the country, including Utah. Investors and Share Holders are extremely concerned about the return on their investment, increasing sales and productivity, excessive workloads and responsibilities, conflicting expectations, and cutting back on staff.

With these increased employer demands on many employees, stress levels have gone through the roof. With longer hours, greater workloads, taking work home, working on the weekends, and less vacation time, most employees literally live at work.

Consider these work-related stress facts;

• "One out of every four employees view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives."
  -Northwestern National Health
• "26% of employees report that they are often or very often burned out or stressed by their work."
  -Families and Work Institute Survey
• 29% of employees say that they feel quite of bit of stress or are extremely stressed at work."
  -Yale University Survey
• "75% of employees believe the worker has more on-the-job stress than a generation ago."
  -Princeton Survey Research Associates
• "Problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than are any other life stressor- more so than even financial problems or family problems."
  -St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co.

In 1960, a Michigan court upheld a compensation claim by an automotive assemblyline worker who had difficulty keeping up with the pressures of the production line. To avoid falling behind, he tried to work on several assemblies at the same time and often got parts mixed up. As a result, he was subjected to repeated criticism from the foreman. Eventually he suffered a psychological breakdown.

By 1995, nearly one-half of the States allowed worker compensation claims for emotional disorders and disability due to stress on the job.
-1995 Workers Compensation Yearbook

In the past 20 years, many studies have looked at the relationship between job stress and a variety of ailments. Mood disorders, restless sleep, upset stomach and ulcers, stress headaches, and discongruent relationships with family and friends are examples of stress-related problems that are quick to develop and are commonly seen in these studies. These early signs of job stress are usually easy to recognize. But the effects of job stress on chronic diseases take a long time to develp and can be influenced by many other factors in addition to stress. Nonetheless, current evidence strongly suggests that stress plays an important role in several types of chronic health problems especially cardiovascular disease (ie: heart disease, high blood pressure), musculoskeletal disorders (ie: chronic pain and tension), and psychological disorders (ie: irritability, mood swings, short temper).

"Health care expenditures are nearly 50% greater for workers who report high levels of stress."
-Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Recent studies also strongly indicate that work-related stress decreases employees' overall productivity, job satisfaction, employee morale, health, energy levels, and happiness.

If you feel your workplace is a current or potential source of stress for your and your co-workers, you may consider an on-sight massage therapy program to help reduce the negative effects of stress in your organization. Similarly we would strongly recommend that you participate in stress-relieving activities including Integrative Massage Therapy and Yoga.

Please contact us for a free consultation and implementation plan for your organization.