To better understand how stress impacts workplace health and safety, I took a series of tests that scored my psychological well-being and coping mechanisms. First, I took an inventory of my stress using the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory. I scored 272. According to the inventory, scores between 150 and 300 indicate a 50% chance of a major health breakdown in the next two years. I have had a moderately stressful year, and there are risks associated with stress if it is handled poorly. Next, I examined my coping and stress management skills, where I scored 76 out of 100. This signifies that most of the time, I am willing and able to take action and modify a stressor to handle it better. Finally, I took the Type A personality test to examine my impatience and irritability. I scored 35 out of 100, indicating that I am not typically Type A and that my mannerisms primarily benefit my relationships and health.
My scores were acceptable, but if I advance into a stressful career, I must find better ways to mitigate the damage stress does to my relationships and health. According to Harvard Business Review’s “What’s the Hard Return on Employee Wellness Programs,” depression and stress are proven to be significant sources of decreased productivity and success within organizations. Life events like illness and starting a family hugely impact performance, and because I am experiencing so many life events at once right now, I need to stay on top of my mental health.
My Type A Personality Test results recommended that I become more comfortable opening up to others and confiding in them. Having a strong support network and being able to share your feelings can help alleviate stress and provide emotional resilience.
Numerous workplace strategies minimize the effects of stress. To stabilize productivity and minimize the outcomes of stress, some companies, like Biltmore, offer 24-hour nondenominational chaplain services. Other organizations, like Lowe’s, implement wellness “clues” throughout the workplace. For example, some Lowes’ spiral staircases make the climb appear more appealing than the elevator and allow employees to exert stress through physical activity.
Berry, L., Mirabito, A., & Baun, W. (2010, December). What’s the hard return on employee wellness programs? Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2010/12/whats-the-hard-return-on-employee-wellness-programs
Scott, E. (2022, November 30). 9 tips to deal with stress at work. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-deal-with-stress-at-work-3145273
