Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Longer Hours. Lower Pay. More Responsibilities.

It all adds up to more stress.

Two years ago a friend confided that she was concerned after two of the four other workers in her department were laid off. She – the department manager – and the two remaining workers had assumed their workload.

A year later, another worker was laid off, leaving just two in her department. Again, she said, they picked up the slack, even though it meant considerable unpaid overtime for both of them.

She balked at the suggestion that she needed to work smarter, not just longer. She said the work had to be done by someone and she had no other choice.

It’s a year later and she is a physical and emotional wreck. Her remaining coworker is leaving soon. There is a breaking point to this stress and she may have already passed it. Unless she cuts back on her workload, her whole life is going to be adversely affected.

Sponsored
Sponsored

A recent survey by OfficeTeam, an office and administrative staffing company, says that 30 percent of managers are more stressed at work today than they were a year ago. Only 11 percent said stress has dropped in the past year.

Additionally, the survey found that 28 percent expect their stress levels to rise again this year.

“Professionals at all levels are working harder and assuming more responsibilities as a result of companies relying on leaner teams,” says OfficeTeam’s Robert Hosking. “Managers in particular may be feeling the heat as they strive to keep employees motivated and productive with limited resources.”

All jobs are stressful. It comes with the territory. But the findings of OfficeTeam reveal that managers today endure extraordinary levels of stress, much of it fueled by concern for their job.

These self-induced stress scenarios point to a bleak outlook as businesses continue to demand more from their managers and employees.

The OfficeTeam survey reveals these concerns:

“There aren’t enough hours in the day.” If you feel overwhelmed by your duties, have an honest conversation with your supervisor. Don’t be afraid of asking for assistance. Perhaps some work can be delayed or interim help can be arranged.

“I’m lucky just to have a job…and scared to lose it.” Many managers worry that their jobs are about to be eliminated, too. But just doing more is no assurance you’ll still have a job. Look for projects that enhance your value to the company.

“Politics are rampant in my office.” In this economy, some managers fear losing their job so much that they begin trying to steal the limelight of a more deserving team member to retain their position. Speaking up in meetings and keeping your supervisor apprised with regular status reports can go a long way in helping the company notice your contributions.

“My manager is driving me crazy.” Your manager may be just as concerned as you are about losing his or her job. Keep them updated regularly so they can turn their attention elsewhere.

You’ll never be able to run away from workplace stress. But there are limits to how much stress individuals can handle. Some can’t handle much while others can shoulder larger shares of it. But when stress is chronic – when it is built into the job – you’ll have to be the one to determine if you can handle it, or whether you’d be better moving to another job.

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

The Art Of Dr. Seuss, Boarded: A New Pirate Adventure, Wild Horses Festival

Events December 26-December 30, 2024
Next Article

Bringing Order to the Christmas Chaos

There is a sense of grandeur in Messiah that period performance mavens miss.

Two years ago a friend confided that she was concerned after two of the four other workers in her department were laid off. She – the department manager – and the two remaining workers had assumed their workload.

A year later, another worker was laid off, leaving just two in her department. Again, she said, they picked up the slack, even though it meant considerable unpaid overtime for both of them.

She balked at the suggestion that she needed to work smarter, not just longer. She said the work had to be done by someone and she had no other choice.

It’s a year later and she is a physical and emotional wreck. Her remaining coworker is leaving soon. There is a breaking point to this stress and she may have already passed it. Unless she cuts back on her workload, her whole life is going to be adversely affected.

Sponsored
Sponsored

A recent survey by OfficeTeam, an office and administrative staffing company, says that 30 percent of managers are more stressed at work today than they were a year ago. Only 11 percent said stress has dropped in the past year.

Additionally, the survey found that 28 percent expect their stress levels to rise again this year.

“Professionals at all levels are working harder and assuming more responsibilities as a result of companies relying on leaner teams,” says OfficeTeam’s Robert Hosking. “Managers in particular may be feeling the heat as they strive to keep employees motivated and productive with limited resources.”

All jobs are stressful. It comes with the territory. But the findings of OfficeTeam reveal that managers today endure extraordinary levels of stress, much of it fueled by concern for their job.

These self-induced stress scenarios point to a bleak outlook as businesses continue to demand more from their managers and employees.

The OfficeTeam survey reveals these concerns:

“There aren’t enough hours in the day.” If you feel overwhelmed by your duties, have an honest conversation with your supervisor. Don’t be afraid of asking for assistance. Perhaps some work can be delayed or interim help can be arranged.

“I’m lucky just to have a job…and scared to lose it.” Many managers worry that their jobs are about to be eliminated, too. But just doing more is no assurance you’ll still have a job. Look for projects that enhance your value to the company.

“Politics are rampant in my office.” In this economy, some managers fear losing their job so much that they begin trying to steal the limelight of a more deserving team member to retain their position. Speaking up in meetings and keeping your supervisor apprised with regular status reports can go a long way in helping the company notice your contributions.

“My manager is driving me crazy.” Your manager may be just as concerned as you are about losing his or her job. Keep them updated regularly so they can turn their attention elsewhere.

You’ll never be able to run away from workplace stress. But there are limits to how much stress individuals can handle. Some can’t handle much while others can shoulder larger shares of it. But when stress is chronic – when it is built into the job – you’ll have to be the one to determine if you can handle it, or whether you’d be better moving to another job.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Gonzo Report: Hockey Dad brings UCSD vets and Australians to the Quartyard

Bending the stage barriers in East Village
Next Article

Houston ex-mayor donates to Toni Atkins governor fund

LGBT fights in common
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader