Supervisors and Managers face enormous demands in our fast-paced, bottom line, multi-tasking society.

This course introduces managers  to the complex issue of stress in the workplace, including what workplace stress is, its causes and negative impacts. Supervisors and  managers alike will learn to identify what is good stress (sometimes referred to as challenge or positive stress)  and the more negative stress that impacts both supervisors and employees.

Workplace stress is the harmful physical and emotional responses that can happen when there is a conflict between job demands on the employee and the amount of control an employee has over meeting these demands. In general, the combination of high demands in a job and a low amount of control over the situation can lead to stress.

Stress in the workplace can have many origins or come from one single event. It can impact on both supervisors and employees alike. It is generally believed that some good stress is okay but when stress occurs in amounts that you cannot handle, both mental and physical changes may occur.

Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of organizational factors – including the ways in which work is organized and will provide strategies for supervisors and managers to manage stress within the workforce.

Topics include:

  • Causes of workplace stress
  • Organizational factors vs. individual/personal factors
  • Impact on workers and organizations
  • Workplace stress as a health and safety hazard
  • Recognizing the signs of workplace stress
  • Managing stress
  • Tips to help prevent, eliminate and reduce workplace stress

Upon completion of the course you will know how to:

  • Describe stress within a workplace context
  • Explain why workplace stress is a health and safety hazard
  • List common causes of workplace stress
  • Recognize common signs of workplace stress
  • Describe how employers, managers and supervisors can prevent, eliminate or reduce workers’ workplace stress
  • Access other sources of information about workplace stress

 

Note that this course does not address “critical stress”, as may be experienced in response to a traumatic or catastrophic event.