Workplace issues
I have worked with many clients who have been unhappy in their work environment. Indeed, the word unhappy doesn't seem to fit the levels of stress expressed in my therapy room when it come to workplace issues.
“Work related stress (WRS) is stress caused or made worse by work. Workplaces which have good communications, respectful relations and healthy systems of work can help people recognise and manage the type of stress which may have more than one cause; such workplaces tend to get the best results in achieving a health and productive workforce.”
Health & Safety Authority, www.hsa.ie
Although all employees have the right to be treated fairly and to feel safe in the workplace, this ideal workplace environment is not everyone’s reality. It is said that we spend nearly one-third of our adult lives at work. Indeed, spending more time in work than with our friends and family. It is understandable how then an environment with different personalities, expectations, roles etc can cause conflict. Workplace issues may cause psychological symptoms and can affect our mental and physical health.
Common workplace issues that employees face include:
“Bullying is repeated inappropriate behaviour that undermines your right to dignity at work. It can be done by one or more persons and it is aimed at an individual or a group to make them feel inferior to other people. Bullying can be verbal bullying, physical bullying or cyber bullying which is carried out on the internet or mobile phones, through social networking sites, email and texts. It can take many different forms such as:
You cannot predict how you will react to a stressful workplace issue, however your behaviour will be different to your previous non-stressed way of being. Stress is a negative experience/feeling associated with new physical symptoms. These include …
Psychological symptoms ….
Counselling Support
It is a good starting point when your become aware that your feelings, thoughts, behaviours and bodily responses have altered due to your work environment. This can help you to assess yourself as …
If you feel things are getting on top of you in work, counselling provides an opportunity for you to discuss any issues that may be affecting you. Counselling deals with the roots of stress and anxiety rather than just the symptoms in order to resolve workplace issues.
Counselling can help you …
As I have previous mentioned we spend a lot of our time in our workplace, if this is a stressful environment for you please ask for support.
“Work related stress (WRS) is stress caused or made worse by work. Workplaces which have good communications, respectful relations and healthy systems of work can help people recognise and manage the type of stress which may have more than one cause; such workplaces tend to get the best results in achieving a health and productive workforce.”
Health & Safety Authority, www.hsa.ie
Although all employees have the right to be treated fairly and to feel safe in the workplace, this ideal workplace environment is not everyone’s reality. It is said that we spend nearly one-third of our adult lives at work. Indeed, spending more time in work than with our friends and family. It is understandable how then an environment with different personalities, expectations, roles etc can cause conflict. Workplace issues may cause psychological symptoms and can affect our mental and physical health.
Common workplace issues that employees face include:
- Communication problems
- Discrimination
- Bullying - please refer to next paragraph
- Harassment
- Interpersonal conflict
- Gossip
- Low motivation and job satisfaction
- Performance problems
- Poor job fit
- Others …..
“Bullying is repeated inappropriate behaviour that undermines your right to dignity at work. It can be done by one or more persons and it is aimed at an individual or a group to make them feel inferior to other people. Bullying can be verbal bullying, physical bullying or cyber bullying which is carried out on the internet or mobile phones, through social networking sites, email and texts. It can take many different forms such as:
- Social exclusion and isolation
- Damaging someone’s reputation by gossip or rumours
- Intimidation
- Aggressive or obscene language
- Repeated requests with impossible tasks or targets”
You cannot predict how you will react to a stressful workplace issue, however your behaviour will be different to your previous non-stressed way of being. Stress is a negative experience/feeling associated with new physical symptoms. These include …
- Increased heartbeat
- Swiftness of breath
- Dry mouth
- Upset stomach
- Sweaty palms
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Others …
Psychological symptoms ….
- Racing thoughts and speech
- Feelings of being overpowered
- Losing control
- Fearfulness
- Anxiousness
- Depression
- Prone to upset
- Withdrawal
- Self neglect
- Stress
- Others …
Counselling Support
It is a good starting point when your become aware that your feelings, thoughts, behaviours and bodily responses have altered due to your work environment. This can help you to assess yourself as …
- Relaxed.
- Under slight pressure which your are coping with.
- Under pressure you are finding challenging but acceptable.
- Under excessive pressure which is causing you stress.
If you feel things are getting on top of you in work, counselling provides an opportunity for you to discuss any issues that may be affecting you. Counselling deals with the roots of stress and anxiety rather than just the symptoms in order to resolve workplace issues.
Counselling can help you …
- Manage depression.
- Manage anxiety.
- Manage other mental health symptoms that result from workplace issues.
- Teach healthy coping skills. E.g. identify and change unhealthy thoughts.
- Mindfulness/meditation.
- Improving assertive communication skills.
- Many more ...
As I have previous mentioned we spend a lot of our time in our workplace, if this is a stressful environment for you please ask for support.