Prevention and Management of Stress Relating to Work

Abstract

The main purpose of the paper is to examine stress in the workplace, with a focus on researching stress related to age and sex. 22% of employed people in the European Union face stress. The consequences of stress are manifested in forms of sick leave, the avoidance of certain work tasks, inefficiency and reduced productivity, dissatisfaction with work and with themselves. If a person does not face up to their problems, it can lead to deep frustration, exhaustion and even burnout syndrome, which is easily expressed on a physical level in the form of psychosomatic diseases. There are strategies for overcoming stress at the individual and organisational level, however sometimes, despite these strategies and techniques, stress appears in all its forms and causes health problems, therefore it is necessary to seek medical and other professional help (psychologist, psychotherapist). The authors of this paper found that the level of stress among employees in organisations is high, women are more likely to experience stress in an ‘emotional way’, while men are more likely to suffer physical illnesses because of stress, and secondary school/university students are the most stressed.