Human Resource ManagementLecture 21

MGT 350

Last LectureOSHA (The Occupational Safety and Health Act), Incidence rateInspection and the inspectorCosts of AccidentsPreventative Measures (Education , Skill training , Engineering , Protection devices, Regulation,

enforcement).Chemical processing Information. Sick buildings are office environments that contain harmful airborne chemicals, or indoor

pollution. The Smoke-Free EnvironmentErgonomicsRepetitive Stress Injuries (Typing)• Injuries resulting from continuous, repetitive movements, such as typing. • As musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). • The most frequent injury is carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs in the wrist.

Topic

Ensuring a Safe and Healthy Work Environment

Defining Stress• A state of mental or emotional strain or

tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.

– Too much work load.– Abusive environment etc.

Defining Stress

• May be caused by either positive factors (opportunities) or negative factors (Threats).

• The Japanese concept of karoshi, death from overworking, illustrates the pervasive nature of stress.

• Stressor– Something that causes stress in an individual.

Defining Stress

Common Causes of Stress

• Organizational Factors – Task demands include job design, working

conditions, the physical layout, and work quotas.

– Role demands include role conflicts, role overload and role ambiguity.

– Interpersonal demands include lack of social support and poor interpersonal relationships.

Role demands

• Role conflicts– Expectations that are difficult to reconcile or achieve.

• Role overload– When an employee is expected to do more than time permits.

• Role ambiguity– When an employee is not sure what work to do.

Defining Stress

Common Causes of Stress– Organizational structure causes include

excessive rules and lack of opportunity to participate.

– Organizational leadership causes include supervisory styles which cause unrealistic pressures, tight controls, and the threat of job loss.

Defining StressCommon Causes of Stress

• Personal Factors

– Family issues – Personal economic problems – Inherent personality characteristics

Defining Stress

Symptoms of Stress • Physiological symptoms (increased blood

pressure, headaches, increased pulse rate, etc.) are the most difficult to observe.

• Psychological symptoms (increased tension and anxiety, boredom, procrastination, etc.) can lead to productivity decreases.

• Behavioral symptoms (increased smoking or substance consumption, sleep disorders, etc.) also affect the organization.

Type A and Type B

• Type A behavior– Personality type characterized by chronic urgency

and excessive competitive drive.

• Type B behavior– Personality type characterized by lack of either

time urgency or impatience.• Managers must recognize that Type A employees are more

likely to show symptom of stress even if organizational and personal stressors are low.

Defining Stress

Reducing Stress

• HRM approaches include– matching individuals to their jobs– clarifying expectations– redesigning jobs– offering involvement and participation

Defining StressReducing Stress

• Dilemmas for HRM include:– balancing the need to

energize people with the need to minimize dysfunctional stress

– deciding how much an employer can intrude on employees’ personal lives

Defining Stress

A Special Case of Stress: Burnout

Chronic and long-term stress.

• Burnout is a function of three concerns: – Chronic emotional stress with emotional and/or

physical exhaustion – Lowered job productivity – Dehumanizing of jobs

Defining Stress

• Causes and symptoms of burnout: – Organization characteristics – Perceptions of organization – Perceptions of role – Individual characteristics – Outcomes

• Reducing burnout - four techniques are proposed: – Identification – Prevention – Mediation – Remediation

Reducing burnout - four techniques are proposed

1. Identification: Analyze the incidence, prevalence, and characteristics of burnout in individuals, work groups, subunits, or organizations.

2. Prevention: Attempt to prevent the burnout process before it begins.

3. Mediation: Develop procedures for slowing, halting, or reversing the burnout process.

4. Remediation: Aid or redirect individuals who are already burned out or are rapidly approaching the end stages of this process.

The Employee Assistance Program

• Specific programs designed to help employees with personal problems.

A Brief History of EAPs – Extension of 1940’s programs to help employees with

alcohol-related problems. – Cost-effective counseling to help employees

overcome problems such as:• Substance abuse • Child-parent problems• Marriage problems

The Employee Assistance Program

• EAPs Today – Provides employees visits with counselors at

company expense.– Employees and supervisors must be familiar with and

trust the program and perceive EAPs as worthwhile.– Confidentiality is guaranteed. – For every dollar spent on EAP programs, studies

estimate a return of $5.00 to $16.00 in savings.

The Employee Assistance Program

Wellness Programs – Programs to keep employees healthy; include

smoking cessation, physical fitness, weight control, etc.

– Designed to cut employer health costs and lower absenteeism.

– Employees must view programs as having value. – Must have top management support. – Should also provide services for employees’ families.

International Safety and Health

• Cultural differences exist in laws and expectations regarding safe working conditions.

International Safety and Health

International Health Issues

– An up-to-date health certificate providing records of employee vaccinations

– A General First Aid Kit should include prescription medications and other supplies that might not be available to workers abroad.

International Safety and Health

International Safety Issues – U.S. Department of State “hotline” provides

travel alerts about such issues as terrorist activity or disease outbreaks.

Summary • What is stress?• What are stressors?• Positive and negative stress.• Symptoms of stress.(Physiological symptoms, Psychological symptoms,

Behavioral symptoms.• How to Reduce stress?• Type A and Type B Behaviors.• Burnout (Chronic Stress. )• Employee assistance programs.• Wellness programs. (Programs to keep employees healthy; include

smoking cessation, physical fitness, weight control, etc. )• International Safety and Health (First Aid Box, Vaccination etc.)