Younger employees cow down to work pressure while elders manage well
As per recent research and studies, younger employees are reporting more struggles at work while older ones are doing better. Also, around 85% of the working parents in the creative, marketing and related industries feel pressure to prioritize work over parenting duties while a greater proportion also feels they must sacrifice family life to achieve their career goals.An individual at the workplace often comes across situations where they have too many tasks that need to be completed within a limited timeframe without adequate breaks or rest periods. Moreover, not receiving sufficient recognition or rewards for hard work or perceived unfair treatment or favoritism creates a stressful and demoralizing work environment making it difficult to make decisions and remember tasks which can lead to anxiety and cause stress due to a variety of psychological, physiological and situational factors. When an individual experiences work pressure, it triggers the body's stress response, known as the fight or flight response which releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare the body to deal with perceived threats. While this response can be beneficial in short bursts, prolonged activation can have negative effects on both physical and mental health resulting in increased heart rates, headaches and fatigue. Also, constant pressure can impair cognitive functions, making it difficult to concentrate, make decisions and remember tasks, which further increases stress.
There is no denying the fact that work pressure is a natural part of most jobs and can sometimes act as a motivator (such as when prompting a student to study before an important exam), helping individuals stay focused and productive but when the pressure becomes excessive or prolonged, it leads to stress, strain, nervous tension or anxiety. Maintaining a healthy balance between pressure and stress at the workplace is crucial for both productivity as well as employee well-being. Organizations must work towards setting clear communication and expectations by ensuring that job roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and communicated; an environment where managers are approachable and available to support their teams are well created and the distribution of the tasks and responsibilities are even to avoid overburdening of any single employee. Introducing wellness programs such as yoga, meditation or fitness classes along with access to counseling and support services for employees dealing with stress, regularly acknowledging and rewarding employees for their hard work and contributions, and promoting teamwork and collaboration to create a supportive and cohesive work environment, creating a feedback loop where employees can voice concerns about their workload and suggest improvements, implementing strict anti-harassment policies and ensure they are enforced are a few strategies that can help organizations create a work environment where pressure serves as a motivator rather than a stressor.
Apart from organizations working towards employee well-being, it becomes crucial for the individual working at any level to maintain a balance between work pressure and family stress as it can be challenging to maintain overall well-being. Prioritizing what is most important both at work and at home, defining clear boundaries between work and family time focusing on high-priority tasks and letting go of less critical ones, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, engaging in hobbies and activities that are outside of work and staying updated on stress management techniques are a few strategies that can help an individual build resilience and manage work stress more effectively. Remember, when stressed, individuals have a more difficult time creating short-term memories and turning those short-term memories into long-term memories. By understanding the causes of work pressure and implementing effective strategies to manage it, individuals and organizations can reduce stress and create a healthier, more productive work environment.
(The writer is an educator; views are personal)
