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.)
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