The nature of work today is changing at whirlwind speed. Rapidly changing technology, national and international economic pressures, shifting demographics, and global environmental concerns make the nature of work an evolving process—one that requires workers to constantly keep up or risk failing or being replaced.
Americans place a great emphasis on their work and career, but hard work, or working in a stressful environment, should not be confused with overworking at the expense of relationships and physical health. Now more than ever before, job stress poses a real threat to the health of workers and to many organizations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2014), job stress has become a common and costly problem in the American workplace, leaving very few workers unscathed. Work-related stress is considered a global issue, as well, affecting the health of workers, organizations, and even entire countries (World Health Organization [WHO], 2004).
According to the CDC (2014) workplace stress is widespread.
A more extensive review of workplace stress reveals even more alarming statistics:
- One-fourth (25 percent) of employees in the United States view their job as the number one stressor in their lives (CDC, 2014).
- Fifty-one percent of employees said they are less productive at work as a result of stress (American Psychological Association [APA] Practice Organization, 2013).
- Forty-four percent of U.S. workers have gained weight in their current job and nearly one-third say that work-related stress contributed to their weight gain (CareerBuilder Inc., 2010).
- Three-fourths (75 percent) of U.S. employees believe that on-the-job stress is greater today than it was a generation ago (CDC, 2014).
- Job stress from all sources results in U.S. industries spending more than $300 billion a year as a result of absenteeism, turnover, diminished productivity, and medical, legal, and insurance expenses (Smith, 2012).
- Problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than are any other life stressor, including family or financial problems (CDC, 2014).