Major Causes of Stress at Work
- ,
- Updated February 22, 2024 2 min read
Do you find yourself gritting your teeth and counting down the minutes until 5 PM every day at work? Are you starting to feel like your to-do list is multiplying faster than a colony of rabbits?
You’re not alone. In fact, a whopping 83 percent of U.S. workers experience work-related stress.
Whether it’s tight deadlines, overwhelming workloads, or difficult coworkers, stress can take a toll on our mental and physical health. And it seems like these days everyone’s stress levels are higher than a kite stuck in a tree.
The ultimate culprit of workplace stress is an overwhelming workload
A heavy workload is understandably the number one cause of stress at work. The American Institute of Stress states that 41 percent of employees reported feeling stressed because of the amount of work they must complete on a daily basis.
From teamwork through delegation to personal work habits, there are different factors that can make the workload feel much heavier than it needs to be. And addressing these aspects can surely help reduce stress and improve employee well-being.
People issues and workplace stress go hand in hand
Almost one-third of employees (32%) report that people problems at work are a major source of stress for them. In fact, navigating interpersonal issues can be like walking through a minefield, just waiting for the next explosion of stress to go off.
What’s more, U.S. workers spend an average of 2.8 hours per week dealing with workplace conflicts. That’s a lot of time spent on disagreements instead of getting things done.
It’s estimated that around 359 billion USD in paid work hours are consumed by workplace conflict instead of positive productivity.
Striving for work-life balance and job security: Two more stressors that can get you
It’s worth mentioning that nearly 1 in 5 workers (18 percent) are feeling the heat because they’re struggling to balance work and personal life.
The importance of work-life balance cannot be overstated. It can either make or break a deal. In fact, a significant 72 percent of workers find it a crucial factor when choosing a job.
In addition to work-life balance, another significant stressor that affects employees is job security.
Many do not have the luxury of feeling secure in their jobs and worry about the possibility of being laid off unexpectedly. As the report states, 9 percent of employees experience stress due to the lack of job security.
- Professional Writer
Julia is a professional writer, translator and graphic designer. She holds degrees in translation and interpretation, and has international work experience from a number of different countries in Europe as well as China and Panama. Julia formerly taught academic writing and as a graphic designer contributed to outlets such as The Business of Business. She has a passion for lifelong learning and good coffee.
