New Delhi: As many as three in every five
Indians believe stress at workplace is healthy, as it has
become a normal part of their lives, according to a survey by
staffing firm TeamLease.
According to the "Stress at Workplace" survey undertaken
across key cities in the country, stress has become such a
normal part of work life that 61 percent of the respondents
found it healthy.
The survey pointed out that exposure to constant stress
in many functions might well be the cause of such an altered
belief.
This sentiment was about 65 percent for employees from
sales, marketing and operations functions, the survey
revealed.
"The popular notion of stress as a negative force that
causes discontentment and discord may be dated. Our survey
captures the bittersweet - but mostly sweet - feelings around
workplace stress and coping mechanisms that probably represent
the youthification of India's workforce," TeamLease Services
General Manager (Permanent Staffing) Surabhi Mathur-Gandhi
said.
"This generation and cohort views stress as feedback for
change but obviously human resource groups in companies have
to be vigilant about striking the right balance," she added.
Moreover, around three-fourth respondents in Pune and
Bangalore also felt stress was good for health.
However, in Mumbai and Ahmedabad there is an equal mix of
responses who feel that stress at work is healthy or not.
The TeamLease survey stated that office politics and lack
of power or influence seemed to stress Delhiites more than
their counterparts in other cities.
'Amount of work to be performed' and 'managing others
work' are the biggest stress elements causing dissatisfaction.
Interestingly, over two-third of respondents did not feel
that carrying work home causes any kind of stress.
To cope up with stress, over two-third respondents tried
to recognise their limitations/fault at work and take
corrective action.
Meanwhile, the least of the options considered include
'taking a few days off' (48 percent) and 'looking out for a
new job (45 percent).
Another interestingly finding was that around 27 percent
respondents admitted to have hit somebody when stressed.
The survey revealed that 'headache' and 'inability to get
sleep' were the two main symptoms that respondents face when
stressed.
Moreover, against the popular belief, only 30 percent
respondents felt like smoking under stress.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 23:43