Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 14/e

Stress at Work

Friends say they’re stressed from greater workloads and longer hours than ever before. Parents worry about the lack of job stability and reminisce about a time when a job with a large corporation implied lifetime security. Employees complain about the stress of trying to balance work and family responsibilities. Harris, Rothenberg International, a leading provider of employee assistance programs (EAPs), finds that employees are having mental breakdowns and needing professional help at higher rates than ever.50 Indeed, as Exhibit 17-6 shows, work is a major source of stress in most people’s lives. What are the causes and consequences of stress, and what can individuals and organizations do to reduce it?

Exhibit 17-6

Work Is ...