stress may 2013

Reducing stress in the workplace

by Toronto Training and HR

May 2013

CONTENTS3-4 Introduction5-6 Definitions7-8 Work-stress factors9-10 Response to stress11-12 Responding to stress13-14 Symptoms of exhaustion15-16 Job control17-18 Leadership and justice at work19-21 Job demands22-23 Social support24-26 Physical environment27-29 Work-life balance and working hours30-31 Recognition at work32-34 Protection from offensive behaviour35-36 Job security 37-39 Information and communication40-41 No time to exercise?42-43 Getting enough sleep44-45 Laughter46-48 Stressors in a police environment49-50 Conclusion and questions

Introduction

Introduction to Toronto Training and HR

Toronto Training and HR is a specialist training and human resources consultancy headed by Timothy Holden

10 years in banking

10 years in training and human resources

Freelance practitioner since 2006

The core services provided by Toronto Training and HR are:

Training event design

Training event delivery

Reducing costs, saving time plus improving employee engagement and morale

Services for job seekers

Definitions

Definitions

• Stress

• Job stress

• Stressors

• Burnout

Work stress factors

Work stress factors

• Low salaries

• Lack of opportunity for growth and development

• Heavy workload

• Long hours

• Job expectations

• Work-life balance

• Job insecurity

• Lack of participation in decision making

• Inflexible hours

Response to stress

Response to stress

• Alarm reaction

• Stage of specific resistance (recovery)

• Stage of exhaustion

Responding to stress

Responding to stress• Practice saying “No”

• Share some of your work or responsibilities with others

• Take charge of your time

• Make a “To-do” list

• Combine errands

• Use problem solving

• Plan ahead

• Keep things in perspective

• Reach out to people

• Focus on wellness

• Find healthy ways to respond

Symptoms of exhaustion

Symptoms of exhaustion

• Physical depletion

• Emotional exhaustion

• Mental exhaustion

Job control

Job control• Engage workers in decision-making

about their work organization

• Improve workers’ latitude and control over the way they do their work

• Organize work in such a way that new competencies, skills and knowledge are developed

• Encourage the participation of workers in improving working conditions and productivity

• Organize regular meetings to discuss workplace problems and solutions

Leadership and justice at work

Leadership and justice at work

• Communicating the policy and strategies for decent work

• Establishing procedures to prohibit discrimination

• Encouraging informal communication among managers and workers

• Protecting privacy

• Addressing workplace problems promptly

Job demands

Job demands 1 of 2

• Adjust the total workload taking into account the number and capacity of workers

• Rearrange work assignments to prevent excessive demands on workers

• Plan the work carefully and agree on achievable deadlines or work pace

Job demands 2 of 2

• Ensure that tasks and responsibilities are clearly defined

• Provide alternative tasks to maintain attentiveness at work

Social support

Social support• Establish close management-

worker relations so that workers and managers can get support from each other

• Promote mutual help and sharing of knowledge and experience among workers

• Identify and utilize external sources for providing employee assistance

• Organize social activities during or after work hours

• Provide help and support to workers when needed

Physical environment

Physical environment 1 of 2

• Establish clear procedures for risk assessment and control based on existing occupational safety and health management systems

• Provide a comfortable working environment that is conducive to physical and mental health

• Eliminate or reduce safety and health hazards at their source

Physical environment 2 of 2

• Provide clean rest facilities

• Establish emergency plans to facilitate emergency operations and rapid evacuation

Work-life balance and working hours

Work-life balance and working hours 1 of 2

• Involve workers in the design of working hours

• Plan work schedules to accommodate the needs of the enterprise and the special needs of workers

• Establish measures and limits to avoid excessively working hours

Work-life balance and working hours 2 of 2

• Optimize working-time arrangement to allow workers to fulfil their family responsibilities

• Adjust the length and frequency of breaks and rest time according to workload

Recognition at work

Recognition at work

• Openly praise good work by workers and teams

• Implement a system by which workers know the consequences of their work

• Implement a system in which workers are able to express their feelings and opinions

• Treat women and men equally

• Provide good career prospects

Protection from offensive behaviour

Protection from offensive behaviour 1 of 2

• Establish and implement an organizational framework and strategies in which offensive behaviour is prevented or dealt with promptly and adequately

• Organize training in and raise awareness of respectable behaviour

• Establish procedures and action models to deal with violence, abuse and harassment at work

Protection from offensive behaviour 2 of 2

• Provide rapid and culturally sensitive interventions to help those involved in offensive behaviour

• Organize working areas to protect workers against violence from clients and outsiders

Job security

Job security

• Plan work in such a way as o enhance the possibility of stable employment

• Provide a written job contract with clear statements concerning employment conditions and wages

• Ensure that salaries are paid regularly and provided according to the relevant contract

• Ensure job security for workers taking parental leave

• Enhance job security and protect workers from unfair dismissal

Information and communication

Information and communication 1 of 2

• Make it a rule for managers to go to the workplace and talk with the workers

• Ensure that supervisors communicate easily and frequently with workers concerning any problems

• Inform workers regularly about important decisions using adequate means

Information and communication 2 of 2

• Inform top management of the opinions of the workers

• Give workers relevant information about future plans and changes

No time to exercise?

No time to exercise?

• Save time getting motivated

• Save time getting ready

• Save time by combining physical activity with other tasks and opportunities

• Save time after being physically active

Getting enough sleep

Getting enough sleep

• Essential part of chronic disease prevention and health promotion

• Weight management

• Sleep savers v sleep stealers

Laughter

Laughter

• Benefits

• Losing weight

• Ways to add laughter to your day

Stressors in a police environment

Stressors in a police environment 1 of 2

• Stress factors and characteristics of the institution

• Pressure exerted by the actual police work

• Stress factors coming from the judiciary system

• Stress factors resulting from the relationship with the public

Stressors in a police environment 2 of 2

• Operational

• Organizational or contextual

Conclusion and questions

Conclusion and questions

Summary

Videos

Questions

stress may 2013

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