How do you deal with workplace stress?
Stress really seems to get to me at work. The factory line that I am an operator on, some of the people don’t want to do what they are suppose to, so I have to pick up the slack on top of what I already have to do. There are also some days when a couple people can’t remember what I trained them on from yesterday, so I have to deal with that. Half the time at the end of the day the folks who work with me leave right at quitting time and don’t help clean up, so I’m stuck with that myself. I have to run things myself the first 10 or so minutes in the morning because the others refuse to head towards the line until the clock says 8:00 sharp. I think the problem is a couple of these people think they have it easy because mommy or daddy works there, and they can just go cry to them. I guess since I’m a temp, not a company person, my opinion doesn’t matter. I never even wanted to be moved up to this position, but they wanted me there. I just told them what they wanted to hear.
I never have had a problem doing any job that was asked of me, I don’t understand why no one else understands that. We all should work as a team. These other people don’t know what it’s like to go home at night and go to bed worrying about what’s going to happen the next day. I get headaches and sick to my stomache all the time.
I have been at this place a little over a year and I know how to do almost every job on the line. I guess knowing every job may not be such a good thing.
As to JT’s answer. I have the exact same 4 work ethics you listed. (I actually start at 8 AM, and I am usually there at 7:15!) I normally punch out 15 – 20 minutes after4. I’m the main operator, so everything kinda falls on me if people screw up. I did hear from one guy through the grapevine that they want to hire me in.
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I go home, write people’s names on racquetballs, and them smack them around the court for an hour. It’s good exercise and helps me work off some of my stress.
It doesn’t sound like your coworkers are interested in changing their slacking ways so you are fighting an uphill battle there. You can grin and bear it or move on to a different job. Just remember, there are lazy idiots everywhere.
I understand totally. I go through the same thing. You can deal with it 2 ways as far as I am concerned. You can slack yourself and just take it easy cause no one respects your extra hard work anyway. Just chill and when the others decide to work then you start too. Or you can go to the boss and tell the boss you have a concern. Explain the situation and ask for their help in getting these people to do their job. If the boss doesnt help than you are just going to have to accept the fact that some people just dont care and you can still do your job just chill a little. I would be asking for a full time position at the time I talk to the boss cause I am sure you would be paid more plus benefits.
It sounds as though, you got the job because no one else wanted to do it. Not saying anything bad. You sound like a great worker, but because you will do anything when it comes to work, they gave you the bottom.
The people you work with don’t have the motivation they need. Try going about it a different way. asking people where they want to be in the line, what job they want to do to help clean the place up. If they leave when the clock is on the hour, maybe clean up should start a little bit before that.
I have learned through management, people will not do what you have not done. I don’t know if that makes sense. In order to get some one to follow me, I take the first step. So If they are having trouble understanding, spend time with each one. (Its REALLY tough!!!!) but It maybe what they need.
I hope that helps. Just be careful, and don’t get yourself too stressed out. Find something to release you tension. I say random stuff to help me focus on what I am doing.
Go to whomever it was that Placed you in the ” Supervisory” Position. Tell them what is UP. Ask that person what THEY want you to do about it OR if you should just Continue doing what you are doing. Me personally, I have Not Always been the ” Boss”, but I usually Became the ” Boss” after a Short Time on the Job. Many times the other Employees Resented that Fact. We talked, if they still would not do their Job, we never ” Talked again. I fired them and Did it for them until I could Hire someone in that would Do what they were Told to Do=== Their Job. Nothing more- nothing Less.After that, everybody did their Jobs and we all lived happily ever-after.
It seems like in all lines of work, alot of people want to do the least amount of work that they have to for the most amount of pay. You basically have two choices since you’re a temp….ask the temp agency to reassign you to another company as soon as possible, or stick it out and just keep doing what you know to be right. The cream always rises to the top, and hard work does pay off. As for relieving the stress…sounds like getting out of there is about the only way you will effectively manage that kind of stress. You’re not in a managerial position if you’re a temp. So, you can’t effect any kind of real change. If you choose to stay, I guess the only way you can really manage the stress is by finding satisfaction in knowing that you are doing the right thing on the job, and you’re doing it to the best of your capabilities. Good luck, and I hope you find happiness on the job somewhere else, rather than stress!
You seem to be a very conscience person ( the dieing breed)
Try just doing your job, no more no less and don’t give the slackers another thought. Go home and be happy with the job
you’ve done and be proud of who you are.
A selection of treatments follows, because circumstances, and individual preferences vary. See stress treatments, at ezy build, below in section 42. A certain level of stress is unavoidable, in modern society, so it is a good idea to develop effective coping methods. For others, or yourself: A massage (at least neck and shoulders) with jasmine, lavender, juniper, and/or bergamot, or German chamomile essential oils added to the massage oil, and to a warm bath, preferably beforehand, to help make any tension knots and muscles more pliant (they may only want, say, a juniper and/or bergamot and/or sandalwood mix: check first). Possibly try a diffuser, as well. See if they will do long, stretching yoga exercises, or t’ai chi with you (see section 2, at ezy build, below).
Practise daily, one of the relaxation techniques on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i; whichever works best for you, but the mindfulness breathing for 15 – 20 mns is ideal, although the progressive muscle relaxation can be learned quickly, and takes only several minutes, if pressed for time. Employ the EFT version for use in public, for which you can reasonably claim that you have a headache, as you massage/tap your temples, but it may be advisable to restrict yourself to subvocalising (saying it to yourself, in your mind, not aloud). Section 53, and pages 2, 2.q and 2.o refer. “Even though I sometimes suffer from stress, I deeply and completely accept myself”.
(The following is a variant of EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, which has been used successfully for those people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, insomnia, and anxiety: it is easily learned, quick to use, yet can be very effective. It is easy to be dismissive of such a seemingly unusual technique, but give it a good tryout, for at least a few weeks, to see if it is effective in your case.).
Prior to using either of the methods in the above paragraph, first sit comfortably, and take a deep breath. Then, without moving your head, move your eyes from the left, to the right, and back again, taking around a second to do so (say: “a thousand and one”: this takes approximately a second). Repeat this procedure (without the words, although you can count, subvocally, if you like) 20 times. Then close your eyes and relax. Become aware of any tension or discomfort you feel.
Then open your eyes, and take another deep breath, and repeat step one, closing your eyes, and relaxing afterwards, in the same manner. Then, repeat the procedure one last time. Some people may find that this is all they need do. With experience, you may find that you can practise this in public, with your eyes closed, which greatly widens the window of opportunity for its use, and avoids attracting unwanted attention.
I have found that the 2 – 3 minutes spent using the EMDR markedly reduces distractions to the relaxation process, and is repaid many times over. With experience, you may find that you can practise this in public, with your eyes closed, which greatly widens the window of opportunity for its use, and avoids attracting unwanted attention.
You can also multitask, using the gazing technique, as you walk/jog or exercise, by focusing on a distant object, or just focus awareness on how each step feels, noting any thoughts which flash across your mind, without pursuing any particular train of thought, just gently redirect your focus to the task at hand.
For some people, it helps to visualise of a quiet, relaxing scene, (Imagine, as vividly as you can, that you are on a tropical beach, reclining comfortably; you luxuriate, as the the sun warms you, and a gentle breeze caresses your skin lightly, inhaling the tangy, sea scented, salt laden spray from the sparkling, translucent, aqua waves, crashing on the white, coral beach sand, and feeling the hot sand slip through your fingers in one hand, sipping your favorite drink with the other; all the while, the seagulls call, swoop and cavort playfully overhead in a cloudless, azure sky: you feel just like one of them, free to soar and cartwheel, or just glide in the moist, heavy air, and that this moment will last forever … ).
Some people may find it helps when they listen to:) Other suggestions:
and the audio, as well as the printed version, at: and or the mountain river sounds. Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements, or a teaspoonful of the oil (I spread mine on toast, and mask its strong taste with fishpaste, and pepper), in the winter months only. Those people who receive adequate exposure to sunlight, daily, won’t need the vitamin D from cod liver oil, but many people, particularly those in latitudes far from the equator, find this difficult, to achieve. Eat healthily, in accordance with your “nutritional type” as determined at SEARCHBAR.
Ginseng (Panax Ginseng (Chinese/Korean/Japanese), panax quinquefolius (American) Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian)). It is also known as man root, life root and heal all. Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium pubescens) Lady’s slipper is one of the most widely applicable nerviness available. It can be used in all stress reactions, emotional tension and anxiety states. Try having a cup of “Tension Tamer”, herbal tea, by Celestial Seasonings, (from supermarket tea, or health food aisles) or make some at home, and cool, then bottle, and drink as needed (I find it so strong tasting, that I need to drink it quickly, followed by something like fruit juice, to take away the taste, but others may find it more tolerable). C(h)amomile tea is a more palatable option. As with all herbal/green teas, use lemon/lime, and/or a little sweetener (NOT ARTIFICIAL!!!) but no cream, or milk.
Xylitol, or Stevia is preferable, (health food stores) or fruit sugar (fructose, such as “Fruisana”, from supermarket sugar aisles) or even a little honey, because these will reduce “sugar spikes”, which later deplete you of energy. Minimise/eliminate consumption of highly processed foods, particularly grain products, such as white bread, donuts, cake, cookies/biscuits, or anything with sugar. Opt for more wholefoods, non-starchy vegetables, and fruit.
Light to moderate daily exercise helps fight stress.
Is your supervisor aware of these issues? Why don’t you start at 7.58, and start cleaning up just before work ends? Start looking for a new job, while still employed, if there is little possibility of a permanent position where you are now.
You have an excellent work ethic and are a responsible, value employee. Unfortunately, many of your co-workers aren’t. In reading your Question, and some of your previous Questions, I saw a lot of my own behaviors, so I thought I’d take time to comment.
My own work ethic?
1. Get there 15 minutes early.
2. Do it right the first time, even if it’s boring and pointless.
3. Always give 100%. The job is important because you’re doing it.
4. Learn how to do everything you can at your job.
I also have stomachaches, chest pain, palpitations, and anxiety worrying about what might happen tomorrow or next week. However, I work with high school students, whose developmental stage includes testing the limits so they can become their own individual.
You mention that you’re a temp. I have worked in a large factory situation (3000 people, 6 factories) as a temp. I worked in personnel, processing applications. Many temporary workers were able to be hired in permanent positions and were even promoted. If there is a way for you to do this, you might consider it.
Since I work in education, my motto is “the more education you have, the less likely you are to end up living in a trailer, working in a box factory.” I’ve seen (smart) high school students graduate, then get a job as an order puller in a warehouse and ten years later they’re still stuck there.
Apparently you’re young and single. I encourage you to consider more education. I encourage you to consider applying for a permanent job, either with your current employer or another employer. If you’re having this level of stress after a year, it won’t go away.
As you know, stress causes stomachaches, headaches, and insomnia. It contributes to heart disease; it can make you fat by elevating your cortisol. It can raise your blood pressure. It can interfere with your endocrine system and contribute to diabetes. It can interfere with your ability to have fun when you’re not at work.
You might want to take your excellent work ethic somewhere that it’s appreciated.
Everyone goes through this at somepoint. Alot of this goes on where I work to and I decided a long time ago to be blunt in as nice a way as possible. I don’t know how much authority you have but I would suggest you find out from your boss, then use it to fix the problem. Remember that lazy people are everywhere, do your job to the best of your ability, and trust that karma always comes back to you. good luck.