Meet The Job Stress Help Consultants
Common Questions
Q. What is job stress?
A. Job stress is a chronic state of disease caused by conditions in the workplace that negatively impact an individual’s job performance and/or overall well-being. Job stress is manifested by one or more of a host of physical and mental illnesses.
Q. What causes job stress?
A. Job stress may be caused by one or more of the following: job insecurity (downsizing, rightsizing, etc.); extremely long work hours; intense pressure to perform at peak levels all the time; excessive travel; too much time away from family; harassment (sexual or psychological); office politics; conflict with a co-worker (manager, supervisor, supervisee or boss); and personal or family problems that affect one’s ability to carry out job responsibilities.
Q. Why is job stress so widespread?
A. The global economy has given rise to a 24-hour-a-day work culture that compels individual workers to work harder and longer for the same pay. The rise of technology — computers, pagers, cell phones, fax machines and the Internet — has resulted in heightened expectations for productivity, speed and efficiency, increasing pressure on the individual worker to constantly operate at peak performance levels. The rapid pace and unrelenting demands of today’s workplace creates stress for employers, employees and their families.
Q. What are the typical signs of Job Stress?
A. The signs of job stress vary from person to person, depending on the particular situation, how long the individual been subjected to the stressors, and the intensity of the stress itself. Typical symptoms of job stress include: insomnia; loss of mental concentration; anxiety; depression; substance abuse; extreme anger and frustration; family conflict; and physical illnesses such as heart disease, migraine headaches, stomach problems, and back problems.
Q. What is Job Stress Help?
A. Job Stress Help is an internet-based service staffed by experienced counselors who are dedicated to helping individuals reduce and avoid the problems associated with work-related stress. Under the supervision of a licensed psychotherapist, the staff at Job Stress Help provides objective advice and problem-solving strategies, as well as information and referral, in response to queries submitted anonymously, via E-mail. These confidential, individualized responses are aimed at alleviating the specific job-stress problem described by the individual seeking help. Responses are delivered within 72-hours.
Q. Who can use Job Stress Help?
A. Anyone with access to E-mail, who is actively seeking constructive ways to eliminate and/or alleviate problems they are experiencing due to work-related stress.
Q. Does Job Stress Help offer therapy?
A. No. We simply offer advice and problem-solving ideas intended to help individuals to become proactive in finding constructive solutions to situations causing them to experience job stress. However, in cases where it seems appropriate, we recommend that the individual seek counseling or psychotherapy. We also provide guidance as to the appropriate treatment needed.
Q. Can job stress cause a disability?
A. In some cases, job stress can cause a person to become disabled and unable to work. A psychiatric consultation is usually required to validate the reason and degree of job stress.
Q. What is sexual harassment?
A. As defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Sexual Harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is made a term or condition of employment. When offensive or intimidating behavior occurs in the workplace, it is considered hostile work environment harassment. This can consist of unwelcome verbal or physical conduct.