Quitting your job or getting fired might seem like putting yourself in an extremely difficult situation. However, you might be surprised to find out that feeling stressed at work might actually be worse than not having a job at all. A study by The University of Manchester found that people employed in low-paying or demanding jobs may not actually enjoy better health than those who remain unemployed.
Over 1000 adults aged 35-75 were monitored during their unemployment in 2009-2010. Later on, researchers followed up with them "about their self-reported health and their levels of chronic stress as indicated by their hormones and other biomarkers related to stress". The results were clear, those participants who moved into poor quality work had higher levels of chronic stress than those who remained jobless.
As if there's not enough stress revolving around our jobs, the pandemic has put even more pressure on it. The American Psychological Association commissioned a survey to look at how workplaces are dealing with the pandemic, measure stress levels, and capture what workers are looking for from their employers as it relates to their mental health.
As it turns out, low salaries, long hours, heavy workloads, and unrealistic expectations are the most common reasons you might feel stressed at work. "When it comes to job level, lower-level employees are more likely to experience negative impacts of work-related stress," the report suggests. "And more than one in three front line workers (35%) have felt fed up at work quite frequently or more often in the past 30 days."
There are certain things managers can do to create a healthy work environment and support employees’ mental health. Respondents offered suggestions like giving flexible hours, encouraging workers to take care of their health, and taking breaks during the workday.
However, some people might feel so sick and tired of their situation that they see no other choice but to quit. According to the Guardian, teachers across the US are leaving their jobs in huge numbers due to exhaustion and low wages. Teaching during the pandemic and dealing with tightly packed and poorly ventilated classrooms leaves them stressed out.
Steven Singer, a middle school teacher from Pennsylvania, said that "the stress of the pandemic is taking a toll on me and all of us. We’re just at a breaking point. This crisis for teachers didn’t start with Covid. We have low pay, low respect, low autonomy, and no one listens to us. Now we’re being forced to risk our lives and our health."
Cathy Bullington, an elementary school art teacher, is thinking of retiring early because she feels left out of the decision-making process. “Teaching during the pandemic has been the most difficult thing I have had to do in my 30-year teaching career. Nothing prepares you for this. We had no plan for this and now the plan keeps changing,” she said.
No one should be asked to pay this kind of price. Even if some level of stress could be considered beneficial and motivating, most of the time, it becomes overwhelming and can have a huge impact on a person’s mental health. It's important to recognize the signs and take slow steps towards managing this pressure.
