Final Recommendation Report

Mapua Institute of Technology
Technical Communication
Stress and Anxiety Affecting the Workplace
Recommendation Report
Team Apostrophe
Dimero, John Benedict T.

Geotina, Michael James A.
Marasigan, Juan Carlos C.
Miranda, Almira Marie M.
December 10, 2014
Eng12: Business Correspondence Project

Introduction
Stress and anxiety are at the center of every health issue, disease process and
progressive decline in health; both mental and physical in the world. Though it often affects
individuals health, it also has an effect in the workplace. These are either self-generated or
influenced by external factors. It can vary from different person to person. It is not defined
to be existing in the workplace but rather generated by the workplace. Stress is a collective
index of measures accumulated over time. Stress is derived by a physiological bridge
between stressors and traumas that act as triggers and inputs from which our physiology
reacts. It is affected by different external factors from which sometimes can lead to anxiety.
Anxiety is defined as a fear or nervousness about what might happen in the future. It is
caused by mental and psychological loops of the brain and mind in which an individual
obsess or think about the past and the future. Stress and anxiety, over the years, has an
effect on the productivity and performance of an individual towards work. This problem
needs to be addressed to eliminate or lessen unproductivity and poor performance caused
by stress and anxiety. This report was intended to deliver information and offer
recommendations from stress and anxiety affecting the workplace. The scope is limited to
the factors that is caused by the workplace and ought to examine the effect to the
organization itself. It also aims to solve problems and take advantage of opportunities to
come up with the best possible solution and recommendation.
Methods/procedures
Several methods and procedures were done in accordance to this report. The
situations were addressed in an orderly fashioned way. Thorough research was conducted
from sources found in the Internet and other books available. Informal interviews from
experienced people were conducted to further understand stress and anxiety including its
causes and effects in the workplace. These findings outline several solutions to increase
productivity and performance by dealing with stress and anxiety.

Discussion of results
Thorough research from sources found in the Internet and other books and articles
available was conducted to increase the level of productivity and performance by
familiarizing to the causes and effects of stress and anxiety. The major source of stress is
found out to be the demands in the workplace. Accordingly, job stress results to workplace
anxiety. Moreover, studies indicate that across occupational categories (blue-collar, whitecollar, and helping professions) the social environment of the organization played a
significant role in predicting depression and burnout. Characteristics of such included
negative work relationships, interpersonal conflicts, lack of peer support, and social
isolation.
Figure 1. Main Causes of Stress

(Secondary Source)
Figure 1 shows the main causes of stress. Workload, with forty six percent, has the
highest percentage and is the main cause of stress. With twenty eight percent are the
people issues. Followed by twenty percent, juggling work and personal lives, and six
percent, lack of job security.
Apart from that, environment stress, defined as minor irritations and frustrations of
everyday life an individual experience, is also taken consideration of. It was found out that

minor irritations, interruptions, noise, poor lighting, poor air quality, furniture and
ergonomics, and clutter and disorganization also affects individuals ability to response,
concentrate and sometimes may lead to stress when not approached properly. When an
individual are exposed to environmental stress in the workplace, including workload and
demands, the performance on the job and the significance of job satisfaction can be
significantly affected.
Being already stressed in the workplace may often lead to fear or nervousness about
what might happen. The function to inability to be present at the moment may be
developed. This is called workplace anxiety. Anxietys root source is workplace stress. Due
to long work hours, environment stress, workload, an individual can lead to having a sense
of fear on what might happen next.
Several effects of stress and anxiety are occurring in the workplace. These must be
taken immediate action for it might bring downfall to the company or organization. These
effects are narrowed down to two major effects: productivity and performance. Poor
performance and counter productivity may be developed when experiencing stress and
anxiety. Thus, solutions must be provided to prevent it from happening.
Solutions to workplace stress and anxiety are manageable. By providing stress
management programs and reducing workplace stressors to therapeutic yoga and
mindfulness
based
programs,
workplace
stress
and
anxiety
lessens.
According
to
researchers from the schools of medicine at Duke University and the University of
Pennsylvania, they found out that compared to control condition, the therapeutic yoga and
mindfulness based programs both lead to significant improvements in perceived stress
levels and reduction in sleep problems; suggesting these strategies are viable interventions
to implement in the workplace.
Conclusions
Workplace stress and anxiety are present at almost any working environment. It can
be generated by the workplace and in return, has an effect on it. Most individuals identified
the workload as the major cause of stress. More so, environment stress also triggers stress.
Starting from small details, including irritations, poor air quality, poor lighting, and clutter
and disorganization, results to inability to focus and cooperate with workloads, resulting to

stress. Aside from that, it can be concluded that workplace stress is the root cause of
anxiety. It allows the target to experience a sense of fear on what is going to happen and
trap them to either the future or the past. It has been pointed out that workplace stress and
anxiety has effects in the workplace from which can bring inefficiency to the company or
organization. Counter productivity and poor performance are the two major effects. Though
it is common in the workplace to experience stress and anxiety, solutions are provided to
lessen this problem or even eliminate it. Suggesting different strategies to be acted upon
can provide a productive and efficient workplace environment.
Recommendations
It should be recommended the following implications for the improvement of the
employees productivity and performance in line with the companys efficiency. Due to
growing concern, the following recommendations are made concerning the counter
productivity and poor performance caused by workplace stress and anxiety:
1. Work demands
The company should provide reasonable work demands and manageable work
schedules. The company could also increase the sense of control of the employees
by letting them access the nature of their work in relevant with their expertise.
Moreover, the company should provide social support in the workplace implementing
a zero-tolerance for harassment. In this way, it can open an opportunity for social
interaction among employees and supervisors.
2. Stress Management Programs
The company should imply therapeutic yoga or mindfulness based programs
in a weekly basis to enhance focus and attention to lessen stress and anxiety. When
ended up too costly, the preferred basis could always be changed.
3. Environmental factors (noise, facilities, lighting)
The company should have facilities checked in a monthly basis and repair or
replace when needed.
To lessen noise, the company should install partitions or
physical barriers to deaden sound. In proper lighting, the company should install
brighter light bulbs in work areas or using full-spectrum bulbs in desk lamps.

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Mapua Institute of Technology

Stress and Anxiety Affecting the Workplace

Dimero, John Benedict T.

December 10, 2014

Eng12: Business Correspondence Project

Mapua Institute of Technology

Eng12: Business Correspondence Project

Mapua Institute of Technology

Figure 1. Main Causes of Stress

Eng12: Business Correspondence Project

Mapua Institute of Technology

Eng12: Business Correspondence Project

Mapua Institute of Technology

To lessen noise, the company should install partitions or

Eng12: Business Correspondence Project

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