Regardless of the profession you are in, job-related stress is a common occurrence in any workplace environment. The current state of the world in addition to the increasing demands put onto employees across the board is creating a volatile landscape that is beginning to affect the mental health of workers everywhere.
As these stressful conditions are becoming more prevalent, it’s important for employers and employees to recognize the symptoms of stress. Whether it be anxiety disorders or psychological injuries, different mental health conditions manifest in different ways. We created this guide to work-related stress injuries to help you better understand the emotional feelings you might be experiencing as a result of stressful working conditions.
What is work-related mental stress?
Work-related mental stress refers to the emotional or physical repercussions people may experience as a result of work demands and pressures that challenge their ability to cope.
Employees in virtually every single profession can suffer from mental stress injuries, from construction workers to health care workers. No one is immune from the effects of workplace stress. There are a variety of things that cause mental stress at work, which vary from one specific traumatic event to everyday pressures of working in your profession.
It is extremely important not to dismiss the feelings you have while at work as doing so could make the problem worse. It is also important to remember that anyone can suffer from mental stress injuries so it is essential to be in touch with your emotions and feelings.
Symptoms of Work-Related Mental Stress
Symptoms of work-related mental stress can vary from things such as anxiety disorder and depression to more physical symptoms such as muscular pain and fatigue. To stay on top of your mental health, you need to be able to recognize the symptoms of work-related mental and emotional stress.
You do not have to be a mental health professional to understand the symptoms of stress. Work-related mental stress can be divided into three main categories: physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, and behavioral symptoms.
The physical symptoms that you might experience are things that affect your body in tangible ways and are often easier to identify. Some common examples of physical stress injury include things such as fatigue, headaches, and heart palpitations. Depending on the profession, you are in it can also manifest in physical injuries such as muscular tension, strains, and body aches.
In addition to work-related physical injuries, others experience psychological symptoms and develop psychological conditions which can be more difficult to identify. Some common psychological symptoms include depression, anxiety, or feelings of being overwhelmed.
The last category of symptoms that you should be aware of is behavior change. Similar to the other categories of symptoms of job stress, behavioral symptoms can differ from one person to another. You might become more aggressive, or on the flip side, you could find yourself retreating and isolating.
Make a claim for stress at work
What are the main work-related mental stressors?
Here are the main work-related mental stressors that affect the mental health of employees :
- Being overworked
- Job insecurity
- Crisis incident
- Deadlines
Being Overworked
In the current job climate, many employees are overworked. Being overworked can inevitably lead to stress, as you are given more work than you can reasonably handle. If you find yourself in a position where you are feeling that there are not enough hours in the day to complete your tasks, or if the work you are being given is more than you can handle, you should address this issue with management as it could lead to increased emotional distress in the long run.
Job Insecurity
Unfortunately, during the pandemic, job insecurity has become a common issue facing workers. As businesses struggle with restrictions, financial issues and lower demand, more people than ever are facing instability and the possibility of losing their job.
Crisis Incident
A crisis incident is a traumatic incident that can happen at work such as a death, fire, a hostage situation, or a gunman on work property. These kinds of incidents can induce post-traumatic stress disorder and have repercussions in the long run. It’s important that you seek out the help of a health care professional such as a psychologist to talk through the feelings you have surrounding the incident you experienced.
Deadlines
Deadlines are a reality for most jobs. Unfortunately, the looming threat of deadlines can cause undue stress for many and some do not have the capabilities to deal with such stress.
If you are experiencing mental stress injuries due to deadlines approaching, it is important to identify when and how often it occurs.
If you recognize your stress levels increasing significantly every time a deadline approaches, it might be an indication of a more serious condition. If it only happens once or twice it might also be related to external factors so it’s important to address your concerns with your boss.
The impacts of workplace stress
Impacts of workplace stress for workers:
- Sleeping problems
- Anxiety
- Inability to relax or concentrate
- Increased risk of work-related accidents
- Decreased interest in work
- Low morale
- Tendency to suffer addictions (drugs, alcohol, tobacco…)
- Deterioration of the physical state and muscle strain
- Increased incidence of heart disease, coronary disease, diabetes or musculoskeletal disorders
- Burnout or exhaustion syndrome
- Depression, low self-esteem, etc.
Impacts of workplace stress on businesses:
- Increase in work accidents
- Increase in absenteeism
- Increase in turnover rate
- Decrease in motivation and satisfaction of the staff
- Decrease in the involvement and commitment of human capital
- Worsening of brand reputation
- Decrease in productivity
- Fall in profits
Benefits of Preventing Stress in the Workplace
As is evident, stress in the workplace not only negatively affects individuals but also creates additional problems for businesses. It is therefore extremely important to prioritize healthy working conditions and emphasize the importance of mental health in the workplace.
Here are some key benefits of preventing stress in the workplace:
Increase in job satisfaction
If you prioritize your workers’ mental health, you will improve job satisfaction which is essential to create an inclusive and positive workplace environment. If people are content in their jobs, they are more likely to perform well which will improve the overall productivity of your business. Job satisfaction also improves job retention as employees actually want to work for your company. This means you will also have a lower employee turnover and it will ultimately be easier to attract top talents to your company.
Maintain Employee Health
This should be the only reason you need to be inclined to prevent stress in the workplace. When you prevent stress in the workplace, you lower the chances of employees suffering from emotional distress and other symptoms of stress. Your employees will therefore be less likely to suffer from issues such as depression, anxiety, muscular pain, or even heart attacks. The health and well-being of employees should be at the forefront of every business.
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Should you file a claim for work-related mental stress?
If you have experienced either a mental or physical injury, you should file a claim for work-related injury due to mental stress. There are compensation laws in place that entitle you to money if you have suffered from injuries that stem from workplace stress.
It is easier to make a stress-related claim if you have suffered a physical injury due to workplace stress. For example, if stress has caused you muscle pain or something more serious such as a heart attack, you are entitled to compensation. It is slightly more difficult to prove a mental injury and have it approved for compensation. However, jurisdictions are becoming more aware of the severity of mental illnesses, so you should still try if you feel you are entitled to compensation.
The type of compensation benefits you will receive depends on the injury you have suffered. You might get ongoing monthly compensation benefits, you might get a one-off compensation claim payment, or your medical bills might be covered, it all comes down to a case-to-case basis.
Where to Get Help
If you have experienced a workplace injury and want to make a compensation claim, Accident Solution is here to help. Our attorneys and experts specialized in cases involving the CNESST will guide and lead your case so that you can focus on your mental health or recovery.
Our team will thoroughly analyze crucial matters such as the medical documents you have in your possession, the circumstances surrounding your work-related accident, the time it took you to report the situation to the CNESST, the witnesses you intend to summon to the hearing, and all applicable delays and deadlines.
