Workplace stress is a leading issue that the employed class in Pakistan is grappling with. A study conducted by Sehatyab reveals that women employees are as much as 2.3 times more stressed at workplaces than men. This eye-opening study acts as a lens into the psychological pressures and challenges faced by employees.
SehatYab is a mental well-being company operating since 2016 and conducts “Employee Assistance Programs” for its corporate and institutional customers. This study is a compilation of over 2000 responses gathered through self-assessment surveys.
The corporate landscape in Pakistan is of such a nature that it impacts the mental well-being of those associated with it quite adversely. The work stress, anxiety of meeting deadlines, the pressure to meet targets, and job burnout together worsen mental health.
In this article, we talk about workplace stress in Pakistan and how it can be managed for improved mental health.
Workplace Stress in Pakistan: A Growing Concern
The prevalence of workplace stress in Pakistan, is as high as 60% of employees working in the urban areas of the country. The Sehatyab study suggests that women are 2.3 times more stressed than male counterparts. There are multiple reasons behind this including the societal pressure on them to manage their household, mom guilt, and postpartum depression that come in the way of workplace activities.
The table below highlights how a stressful situation affects a male and female staff member differently. While a man will have compromised productivity, a woman will suffer more on a physical basis and affect her health. Analysis such as these helps the human resources department to create interventions which are applied to staff in accordance to their issues.
Some major reasons that amplify the work stress of these employees are the consistent job insecurity owing to the ever-increasing economic instability, the culture of always staying connected with the team and employer digitally, and the lack of organizational support in dealing with mental health issues.
Furthermore, even when an employee talks about taking mental health seriously and connecting with a psychologist, he is considered emotionally weak and timid. The stigma associated with psychological issues is one major reason why a lot of people avoid talking about anxiety and depression in Pakistan.
Workplace Stress: Its Influence and Outcomes
Workplace stress also impacts the organization. Its consequences have proven to extend beyond the personal level. For instance, an organization that has employees grappling with stress and anxiety will eventually see decreased productivity.
Another way of looking at the data is by collating information on the basis of Productivity, Health, Family life and positive outlook. This was how companies focus on what areas to manage. We see here that although woman staff is on a higher stress level on all counts, the most affected areas are Health and Family Life.
This is why, it is necessary to deal with workplace stress both for the employees as well as the employers to ensure a healthy environment in the workplace as it benefits both entities.
Managing Workplace Stress: What Employees Can Do?
Managing workplace stress is possible and here are some ways this can be done:
A. Staying Organized And Keeping a Track of Time
Having the work desk organized has a good impact on mental health. Keeping a good track of time while performing workplace activities reduces the chances of dealing with pressure related to deadlines. Avoiding procrastination and prioritizing work over random breaks helps showcase efficiency in work.
B. Setting Boundaries But Seeking Support
It is necessary to set boundaries with other employees at work to avoid unnecessary thoughts crowding the brain. However, it is necessary to seek support from HR when needed.
C. Prioritizing Physical Health
Good physical health leads to a healthy brain. Hence, it is necessary to prioritize physical health and take enough breaks while performing high-pressurizing tasks. A good sleep cycle and a healthy diet help mitigate stress levels. Alongside this, regular physical activities and exercises help promote a sense of well-being.
D. Developing Emotional Intelligence
Understanding stress when it starts impacting you is the first step towards dealing with it. This is called emotional intelligence and offers self-awareness of knowing oneself. Working on EI also helps in improving personal relationships with peers and helping them deal with their psychological issues.
Managing Workplace Stress: What The Employers Can Do?
The first responsibility of helping the employees in dealing with workplace stress falls on the shoulders of the employers. Here is what they can do to manage workplace stress:
A. Offering Flexible Policies
At times, reaching the office is not possible for employees, especially when they are dealing with family issues. A reasonably flexible hybrid or remote work opportunity should be offered to employees to provide them with some work-life balance. This would help them manage their stress and anxiety levels.
B. Making Arrangements for Professional Help
Employers must make appropriate arrangements to provide professional psychological help for the mental well-being of the employees. This way, the employees would be able to avoid the financial burden of having therapies from professionals and also deal with the stigma associated with the judgment that comes with seeking professional psychological help.
C. Showcasing Recognition and Give Rewards
Intrinsic and extrinsic both kinds of motivations are necessary to keep the morale of employees high during extremely stressful work situations. Employee recognition programs help not only boost the morale of the employees but also help them reduce stress and anxiety.
Way Forward
Workplace stress is a big challenge that can only be managed collectively. Employees and employers both have to take joint actions to ensure a thriving organization. It is a collective responsibility and is shared between various members of the society. The root cause of workplace stress has to be figured out and then strategies are to be developed to deal with it.
Sehatyab, an online platform for psychologists, provides online sessions, virtual workshops, and therapy sessions to employees dealing with workplace stress.
Since 2016, SehatYab has been offering expert care with a team of more than 30 specialists, including relationship counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists. Renowned among leading companies in Pakistan, SehatYab’s Employee Wellbeing Program provides flexible options, from single interventions to year-round wellness initiatives. It also adapts to various needs, from short-term interventions to long-term wellness strategies.
Empower your employees with easy access to mental health resources by partnering with SehatYab. Visit the website for details on corporate mental health programs or connect with us at [email protected] or +923041112310 (Call) / +923001003140 (WhatsApp).
Everything is this article is wrong .Almost everything. I can point them out with actual examples but I doubt I ll be allowed to
Looks like a chatgpt article.