16/09/2009
Workplace stress is seen as a part of life and most employees in India are not fazed by rising stress levels. In fact, a majority of employees feel work related stress is healthy. These are some of the findings of a new survey conducted by leading staffing company TeamLease Services Pvt. Ltd in association with global research firm Synovate. The survey “Stress at Workplace”, is the 7th survey conducted by TeamLease in a series to understand India’s new “World of Work”.
According to the survey, majority (61%) of the respondents found stress healthy. Interestingly, a higher percentage (65%) of surveyed employees from sales, marketing and operations functions find a bit of stress is good. The survey points out that exposure to constant stress in many functions might well be the cause of such an altered belief.
The survey is based on response from 400 employees in the age group of 30-45 years across functions of sales, marketing, business development, operations, finance, administration/HR and IT systems in the cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.
Recognizing their own limitations/fault at work and taking corrective action is the most sought out option to cope up with stress, the survey reveals. Curiously, taking a break from work (few days off) or looking for another job were considered as the least preferred solutions to workplace stress. According to Surabhi Mathur-Gandhi, General Manager, Permanent Staffing, TeamLease Services, “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. 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.”
Key Findings of the Survey
- Overall 61% respondents feel that ‘stress at work is healthy’. Around three-fourth respondents in Pune and Bangalore feel the same way. In Mumbai and Ahmedabad there is an equal mix of responses who feel that stress at work is healthy or not.
- Over 65% of respondents from Operations, Marketing and Sales feel that stress is healthy probably because of the nature of work involved with their job function. HR/Administration reported the lowest response with a 52% response.
- ‘Amount of work to be performed’ and ‘Managing others’ work’ are the biggest stressors causing dissatisfaction. ‘Keeping up with technology’, closely followed by the ‘attitude of spouse/partner’ are also stressors that create negative emotions.
- Over two third respondents did not feel that carrying work home causes any kind of stress.
- To cope up with stress, over two third of respondents try to recognize their limitations/fault at work and take corrective action. Least of the options considered are “taking a few days off (48%)” and “Looking out for a new job (45%)”.
- 60% respondents said that their company conducted ‘Employee Satisfaction Survey’ periodically to understand and to come up with solutions to combat workplace stress. ‘Confidential counselling’ is the next best solution offered by the companies to combat workplace stress. Offering ‘health club membership’ to the employees (31%) is not an offering popular with organizations.
- Among the cities surveyed, Amdavadis came across as most satisfied with various facets of their work life, like relationship with colleagues, conflict resolution, amount of work, level of salary, amount of flexibility and work environment. Puneites were the least satisfied.
- Office politics and lack of power/influence seem to stress Delhiites more than their counterparts in other cities.
- Overall, 68% respondents feel that companies should ‘formulate policies’ to identify and help employees deal with stress. Over 90% respondents from Mumbai and Kolkata share this opinion. 31% respondents from Delhi feel that formulating a formal policy will not help employees in dealing with stress.
- ‘Headache’ and ‘inability to get sleep’ are the two main symptoms that respondents face when stressed. Against the popular belief, only 30% respondents felt like smoking under stress.
- Around 27% respondents admitted to have hit somebody when stressed – a low response reflecting unacceptability of such means to alleviate stress levels.
- Camaraderie – Around 60% employees tried to help their stressed out colleagues through various means like rendering advices, moral support, financial support, counseling or working with them to find areas of improvement.
