Management Strategies of Occupational Stress: Implications for Life Expectancy

Abstract

Employees' assimilative and adaptive skills are constantly put to the test by daily demands in the workplace. This paper considered ‘Management strategies of occupational stress: implications for life expectancy’ with focus on occupational stress introductory background, its consequences as well as its management strategies and implications for life expectancy. Some causes of occupational stress include having insufficient skills for the job, excessive workload, interpersonal conflicts with other staff, discrimination and harassment in workplace, threat of malpractice litigation and poor wages. Illhealth, burnout, deaths and economic loss are just some of the detrimental effects of occupational stress. Its management strategies follow a pattern of physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural targets as well as combinational change approach or at organizational level. It was recommended amongst others that workplaces management should implement public enlightenment programmes on occupational stress and its coping mechanisms for the organization members; and that routine medical examination for all workers be made part of corporate body policies against occupational stress complications.