Females Suffer More in Workplace

Female Employees 1.5 Times More Likely Than Males to Suffer Stress in the Workplace

By Hollie Mantle

A recent data analysis by health and safety consultants, Arinite, has found that workplace stress rates are 1.5 times higher in female workers than in males. This analysis reflects data over a five year period between 2009 and 2014. The number of females reported to be suffering from stress caused or made by worse by work has been substantially higher year on year compared to reported levels of stress amongst male workers.


What Counts as Workplace Stress?


According to Bryan Richards of Arinite, “there is a clear distinction between pressure which can create a ‘buzz’ and be a motivating factor and stress, which can occur when this pressure becomes excessive.” Each year in the UK half a million workers experience work-related stress at a level they believe is making them ill. Despite increasing awareness of the negative physical impacts of stressful working lives on the body, the analysis reveals that whilst the number of other workplace issues such as injuries and fatalities have either declined or remained steady over the past five years, stress levels amongst UK workers is on the increase.


In 2014, for example, 487,000 incidences of work-related stress were reported – an increase of 87,000 since 2011. An illustrative example of this health and safety data analysis can be seen here. Why are women more likely to suffer from workplace stress?


In a report titled, ‘Work, Employment and Society’ by Haya Stier of Tel Aviv University, participants from industrialised countries worldwide revealed that the quality of working environments for women appeared to be significantly lower than for men. The study focused on areas such as feelings of stress, tiredness and flexibility. Male respondents indicated that they felt levels of stress and exhaustion at work that were on average 5% lower than females. Their responses also suggested that opportunities for advancement were perceived as higher in males than females, and male workers also tended to respond more positively than females when discussing their feelings of job security.


On top of an inferior sense of wellbeing at work, women are still subject to a discriminatory pay gap which allows men, on average, to take home an additional £100 per week in the UK. These figures, based on statistics from the ONS, suggest that men can expect to earn on average £5,200 more than their female counterparts per year, whilst maintaining a higher level of mental wellbeing (see below for US statistics on pay gaps between the genders).


Implementing a Stress Management System


Overall, female workers experience higher levels of exhaustion, have less job security and earn lower salaries than male workers in the UK. This may go some way to explaining why the ratio of female workers suffering from work related stress or anxiety is 1.5 times higher than males.


Health and safety consultant Bryan Richards suggests that this issue is one that must be tackled by employers. Richards says, “Employers need to acknowledge this gender gap and make a point of addressing it when implementing a stress management system in the workplace. Where possible, employees should be given control over the pace of their work. There should also be a system in place so that employees are able to raise concerns about the working environment as and when they arise. “Considering females appear to suffer more when it comes to workplace stress, there needs to be a sufficient support system in place to provide help to this demographic. Employees should be able to raise concerns privately or anonymously, and then employers should brainstorm with workers as to how these issues can be dealt with. Bringing a neutral party to assist with these exercises can ensure employers are being fair.”


Tackling Gender Inequality


Stress is one of the biggest causes of sickness absence in the UK, with those suffering averaging a total of 30.1 days off per year. Considering sickness absence costs employers a whopping £495 per year per employee, it’s high time business started taking stress management seriously. Tackling gender inequalities in the workplace and ensuring female workers are fully supported is one step in the right direction.


Check out Arinite's Health and Safety Tracker Here:

http://www.arinite.co.uk/arinite-health-safety-tracker-infographic



Hollie can be reached via email at h.mantle@accuracast.com.




*Women in the US are paid .70 on the dollar to their male counterparts. Obama enacted the Fair Pay Act as one of his first bills once elected to office, but there is no current process for rectifying this gap.


See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

Your Vibration

From Stephanie:

'My job is take the complicated and make it clear for YOU. Simplification of the perplexing is my goal. So, with that in mind, let's start with EVERYTHING.'

The Theory of Everything

If there is any "theory of everything" that can describe the whole universe, it is M theory, according to Hawking and Mlodinow. This model is a version of string theory, which posits that at the tiniest levels all particles are fundamentally little loops of string that vibrate at different frequencies. And, if true, all matter and energy would follow rules derived from the nature of these strings.
~Stephen Hawking

Everything that I think that I need to do, is all only in order to propel me to some place, that when I get there I think I will be happier. So, everything that I am doing, no matter what it is, all of my lists of rights and wrongs, are all about me getting to a manifestation, that I believe I will then be happier...So, why don't I take a short cut and just be happy?
~Abraham Hicks

The discipline that we would like you to exercise is to make a decision that nothing is more important than that you feel good, and that you are going to find thoughts that feel better.
~Abraham Hicks

How? How about THIS WHOLE BLOG! Go...surf...find something on here that raises your vibration!


See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

New Page on My Website: Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence is FIVE TIMES a better indicator for workplace success than IQ. The good news is unlike IQ, EI can be increased intentionally. Go to my new website page for ways to deepen your EQ.





See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

How to Focus a Wandering Mind

Great article on why it wanders and how to get control of it; should be good for meetings, etc.

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It’s not surprising—this kind of repeated mental exercise is like going to the gym, only you’re building your brain instead of your muscles. And mind-wandering is like the weight you add to the barbell—you need some “resistance” to the capacity you’re trying to build. Without mind-wandering to derail your attempts to remain focused, how could you train the skills of watching your mind and controlling your attention?

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FULL ARTICLE



Reading all this might make you think that we’d be better off if we could live our lives in a constant state of laser-like, present moment focus. But a wandering mind isn’t all bad. Not only can we leverage it to build focus using FA meditation, but the capacity to project our mental stream out of the present and imagine scenarios that aren’t actually happening is hugely evolutionarily valuable, which may explain why it’s so prominent in our mental lives. These processes allow for creativity, planning, imagination, memory—capacities that are central not only to our survival, but also to the very essence of being human.

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

Opening the Chakras - It's Child's Play

You may have heard the term "chakra" and dismissed it as new-age nonsense. But chakras are very real. This video, a cartoon excerpt, explains them very well (and enjoyably). Take a minute and enjoy this introduction to chakra clearing for better physical and emotional health.

Link directly to video or watch here (below):



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Anger: What Is It Good For?

Answer: Absolutely nothing.

Maybe. I'm obviously paraphrasing Bruce here...but let me fill you in on my reasoning.

In my work, I've followed the research on anger most of all. Anger is the thing everyone signs up for my classes to avoid or remedy. It's the main theme for ALL of the interpersonal skill programs. How to avoid this result. The damage it does.

At first, the literature said: Let it all hang out; don't hold back. It's bad for you, it's not healthy. So, we all did. And that got a result...one most of us did not appreciate. One that did damage, esp. in the workplace. Lately, the research says the opposite: To indulge your anger, creates adrenaline neuropathways, that BEG to be fed, once laid down. And then we create situations to allow ourselves to anger/rage. It feels good at the time. And we all know how it feels afterward: mostly shaming, regretful, left cleaning up the consequences.

I've been thinking about this for some time now. I've noticed my relationships have only suffered, never repaired to their former state, much more damage done than benefit found.

I'm not sure what I want any of you to do with this. I'm just noticing the evolution in myself. I'm gonna continue to notice and will report anything I find that works for me...as always.

I can recommend just about EVERYTHING that Albert Ellis wrote. He wrote a lot..so that should keep you busy. He's got several books on anger and how to unplug from it.

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.

Approval Seeking: One Way We Create Stress and Anxiety

Many people struggle with the "Disease to Please," and this blog entry by Adam Pearson is very helpful in sharing why we do it, what is behind it and how to stop it.

Here's a taste:

If we don’t feel worthy by default, then we need to lovingly cultivate the belief that we are worthy. We need to treat ourselves with the same respect that we offer to others. We need to recognize that we, like everybody else, deserve to be loved and to belong. We need to realize that we have value within us that does not need to be externally validated, that we are enough, and that we can find our value in ourselves. And we need to see our own worthiness so clearly that we no longer need to go hustle others for approval because we already approve of ourselves. We no longer need others to validate us because we already validate ourselves. If you’re in the midst of shame, this may sound like a distant reality from what you are experiencing, but as a recovering approval seeker, let me tell you that it is achievable. You’re not alone. You can do this.

He shares the antidotes to approval seeking as well: Shame-Resilience, Compassionate Self-Talk, and Cultivating Worthiness. Check it out. This may be just the thing to lower the stress levels and anxiety that comparison and people-pleasing can generate.

Silencing The Praise

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Work Stress Just May Make You Insane

This is why I think it's SO important that you not take a job for the money. You can learn to live modestly and I have found it to be a very satisfying way of life, actually. I've taken a major pay cut from private sector to work for my local government and I have found the simplicity of my lifestyle is much less stress producing as well.

Our society seems to have slowed down on this materialistic bent for a bigger house, a new car every three years and so on. Less is more sometimes and when it comes to work, it may just mean your mental health. Here's an excerpt and the link to read the entire article :

"For many of us, society has become increasingly alienating, isolating and insane, and earning a buck means more degrees, compliance, ass-kissing, shit-eating, and inauthenticity." Full Article "Why Life in America Can Drive You Insane"

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Goodbye, Robin

Russell Brand and Robin Williams have always struck me as men not of this world, but so much more and beyond. They both have a gentle and humorous way of bringing this to your attention too. How fitting that Russell Brand wrote this as sort of an online eulogy to Robin. The intelligence of Russell is clear in the writing, but the depth to which he explored the meaning of Robin's suicide is something bordering on genius.

I agree with Russell that this world makes it hard for people to be different, to be themselves, to be real, to be flawed, to be human, to hurt. I hope and hope again that my life work is to make it okay for the expression of this reality in all of our lives. I have also struggled with the very things mentioned in this fabulous editorial, and know firsthand that it is the gentle-hearted and the loving and compassionate that hurt most of all. They are the ones who progress us further as a culture too. They are the ones who heal.

The continuation of the social mask that says, "I'm not only doing fine, I'm doing a hell of a lot better than you are," needs to end. I can no longer see its use. And so, with that, I post this in hopes that you will share this post as well and get this message going. The message being that we are all in pain. And it's time to start acknowledging it, instead of judging it and ridiculing it and hiding it and hoping that will make it go away.

Here is Russell's article/eulogy:

Or copy and paste into your browser http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/12/russell-brand-robin-williams-divine-madness-broken-world

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Perfectionism Q & A

A recent visitor to my website posted this question about her perfectionistic boss. Following is my advice to her:

Q: I work for a medical clinic, a specialist. The physician has a set standard that when a patient comes into the office you can spend no more than 20 minutes addressing all of this patients complaints. No exceptions. If your time runs out, we are to list that on our Encounter form that we "didn't finish because of time". We have to indicate what time we take this person in to work on them and then document what time we finish with them. Daily, each employee who goes "over their time" is wrote up and a copy put in their file. In the struggle to get the maximum out of every minute, the personal touch is lost, that personal connection with your patient, all for the almighty dollar. This clinic has always had the reputation of being the "friendliest and most caring staff" according to our patients but lately, all we hear are complaints about the doctor. All employees are either depressed or medicated and some of us have worked here 25-30 years and really don't know what to do about our physician. The doctor is constantly yelling at employees, interrupting employees during examinations with other patients..just bad behavior. We have even had patients start leaving now, one being a new patient that overheard the doctor cursing an employee. All of us are at our ropes end and don't want to quit but I am seeing a lawsuit in the future...which will be difficult because our physician's wife is an attorney.... HELP!


A: I am so sorry this is your experience at work. This is exactly why I put this site together. One thing you could do is post this quote:

'If you are determined to create a workplace of perfection, you will always create a culture of deception.'

This means that since perfection isn't possible, when a manager or person in charge insists on perfection, we are forced to lie, deceive, cover-up or do things to maintain this illusion.

A person who insists on perfection is actually struggling with self-hatred. Since humans are not capable of perfection, when this standard is pursued, the inevitable outcome is that they will fail. We all make mistakes. To insist on perfection therefore, sets us up for failure. It is self-sabotage.

Since we insist on this standard in ourselves, we then project this out to others. Since we can't trust ourselves to be perfect, we are hyper-vigilant in keeping this standard in the people around us. We cannot stand imperfection or mistakes, because we cannot stand it in ourselves. We have not made peace with our humanness, our flaws, and therefore we are intolerant of these in others.

Progress, not perfection, is the gold standard. When we are making progress, making things better, striving for excellence, we are at peace. When we insist on perfection, we suffer.

Stephanie Goddard Work Stress Solutions

See Stephanie's site Work Stress Solutions for more information like this.