Workplace Concerns

Most of us spend a large portion of our life at work. Thus enjoying the time that we spend at work is critical to our overall happiness. There are a wide range of issues that can affect our enjoyment of work, but some of the key components consist of our relationships with the people that we work with, our enjoyment of the work itself, and the general atmosphere that our employer creates. Any or all of these factors can materially affect your enjoyment of and attitude towards work.

Job stress is how many people experience unhappiness at our work. Job stress can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. Job stress can lead to poor health and even injury.

The concept of job stress is often confused with challenge, but these concepts are not the same. Challenge energizes us psychologically and physically, and it motivates us to learn new skills and master our jobs. When a challenge is met, we feel relaxed and satisfied. Thus, challenge is an important ingredient for healthy and productive work. The importance of challenge in our work lives is probably what people are referring to when they say "a little bit of stress is good for you."

When the challenge has turned into job demands that cannot be met, relaxation has turned to exhaustion, and a sense of satisfaction has turned into feelings of stress, the stage is set for illness, injury and job failure.

If you are struggling with work, it is important to seek answers that will enable you to change this situation. The Counseling Center may be able to help you. To request a confidential session Contact Us.