Wellbeing: A Complete Reference Guide, Volume III, Work and Wellbeing

Chapter 12

Organizational Coping Strategies and Wellbeing

Gordon Tinline and Matthew Smeed

Robertson Cooper, U.K.

Coping strategies vary in terms of their range and stage of implementation. In terms of range they can be broad pan-organizational, through groups and teams, to individually specific interventions. The stage of use can be from the no symptom preventative to treatment application for highly stressed individuals. Figure 12.1 summarizes the range and stage dynamic in an adapted stressor–strain framework (Hurrell, Nelson, & Simmons, 1998).

Figure 12.1 Range and Stage of Intervention.

Coping strategies are required at all stages of the stressor–strain chain. The later they are applied the narrower and more targeted they need to be. This chapter will provide an overview of coping strategies applied in organizations and summarize their practical benefits and limitations.

Early-Stage Broad Strategies

In theory, if broad coping strategies were applied consistently across organizations there would be little or no need for more focused later stage interventions! In practice this never happens, primarily as a result of the variation that individuals experience cognitively and emotionally, and demonstrate behaviorally, when facing the same work pressures. Broad strategies intended to either block or remove organizational stressors or to mitigate their impact across the organization ...