{"id":12322,"date":"2022-05-05T10:14:01","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T10:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/?p=12322"},"modified":"2022-05-12T07:21:01","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T07:21:01","slug":"how-to-manage-workplace-stress-in-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/how-to-manage-workplace-stress-in-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Manage Workplace Stress in Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"

The last two years have been a period of adjustment for employers and employees alike. Trends in the<\/span> <\/span>Great Resignation<\/span><\/a> in the US indicate that many people who quit their jobs were mid-career (30 to 45-year-olds) employees and in high-stress industries, such as IT and healthcare.<\/span><\/p>\n

While this surge in<\/span> <\/span>resignations has not yet happened in Canada<\/span><\/a>, some believe it is just around the corner. About 19.3% of Canadians plan to quit their jobs in 2022, likely because they want to pursue a new way of working post-pandemic. Employee engagement declined significantly in Canada and globally in 2020, primarily due to a high rate of burnout and other related stress. One report found that Canadian workers, in 2020, were among those with the<\/span> <\/span>highest rate of daily stress<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another survey indicates that <\/span>workplace stress is a global issue, with <\/span>participants stating their stress levels were much higher now than it was half a decade ago. Among the most common sources of stress were heavy workload and problems with \u201cthe boss.\u201d The World Health Organization identifies the<\/span> <\/span>lack of support from supervisors and colleagues<\/span><\/a> as an exacerbating factor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is Workplace Stress?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The<\/span> <\/span>Canadian Mental Health Association<\/span><\/a> classifies stress as a reaction to a situation when the demands require more than the resources available, and there is a lack of control. One example is when a supervisor requires an employee to complete a report in an hour when it will typically take three hours to do the task. Most employees will not feel empowered to protest, thinking of it as an “aspect of our work.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Workplace stress affects people in different ways. Some people respond well to a high crisis, such as looming deadlines. They find the challenge stimulating. Others, however, find a lot of stress overpowering, leading to adverse effects on their physical, mental and emotional well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stress can result from a single event, such as changing jobs, long-term situations, such as parenting, or daily hassles, such as traffic. When people feel that the stress is more than they can handle, it leads to<\/span> <\/span>mental stress injury<\/span><\/a> if it\u2019s not addressed. Interestingly, many believe that employers can significantly <\/span>reduce the costs associated with employee stress <\/span>by providing a supportive work environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are Common Sources of Stress?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The sources of workplace stress are not the same for everyone.<\/span> <\/span>According to HRD<\/span><\/a>, 41% of people identify heavy workloads as their most significant stressor, but 31% say that not enough work is their source of stress. A further 28% and 13% identified a demanding boss and unclear expectations as their pet peeves, followed by fellow employees (12%). Surprisingly, only 2% of the participants said low wages stressed them out.<\/span><\/p>\n

It seems clear that the workload, or lack thereof, which is often a result of poor management, is a major reason for raising workers’ stress levels. This, in turn, may affect employee relationships, leading to even more stress.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some may find office drama and high demands on the job as good stress, but it may still affect their work-life balance and relationships in the long term. A reasonable workload with good management practices can go a long way toward creating safe workplaces and a productive environment with just the right amount of good stress.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does Stress Affect Worker\u2019s Health and Safety?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Chronic stress can significantly affect a worker’s overall health. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupation Health and Safety (CCOHS), the <\/span>human body responds automatically to stressful events<\/span><\/a>. However, when this response isn\u2019t turned off for long periods at a time, it can cause a weakened immune system, headaches, increased blood pressure and heart rate.<\/span><\/p>\n

This fight or flight response is critical for survival, but it is not meant to be a way of life. If you have constant exposure to triggering factors, i.e., daily deadlines, your body is always on high alert. You have no chance to turn off the rush of hormones that keeps you on your toes. Over time, it can lead to adverse physical and mental effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are the Common Effects of Stress?<\/b><\/h3>\n

The effects of stress depend on its source and level. For sudden or unexpected events, such as an accident, you could have a spike in those fight or flight hormones that can lead to the following short-term effects:<\/span><\/p>\n