Managing Psychosocial Factors In The Occupational Setting Flashcards
Organization of work
Refers to how work is structured
Includes
- Work processes
- Organizational practices that affect the job design
Psychosocial factors are directly related to…
- Organization of work
- Organizational characteristics
- Interpersonal relationships at work
- The meaning of work
- The characteristics of the workers themselves
How has the structure of work changed in the recent years
Organizations have:
- Downsized
- Restructured
- Increased reliance on non traditional work practices
Changes in work practice may result in:
- More stressful and hazardous work conditions
- Reduced job stability
- Increased workloads
Despite negatives the modern day workplace offer more…
Resulting in…
- Flexibility
- Responsibility
- Learning opportunities
- Career growth
- Self development
- Greater job satisfaction
Levels in NIOSH conceptual model to illustrate multi-levels of context inherent in the work environment
- Work context
- Organizational context
- External context
Work context
Refers to characteristics of the job
Work context includes…
- Job demands
- Conditions in the workplace
Specifically
- Climate and culture
- Task attributes: temporal aspects, complexity, autonomy, physical and psychological demands
- Social-relational aspects of work
- Worker roles
- Career development
Organizational context
Refers to the structures and processes at the organizational level
Organizational context includes…
- Management styles
- Production methods
- Human resource policies
Specifically
- Organizational restructuring (downsizing)
- New quality and process management initiatives (high performance work systems)
- Alternative employment arrangements (contingent labor)
- Work/life/family programs and flexible work arrangements (telecommuting)
- Changes in benefits and compensation systems (gainsharing)
External context
Refers to the multitude of directs at the national and international level that affect the work environment
External context includes…
- Demographic trends
- Economic conditions
- Policy and regulations
- Social and cultural norms
Specifically
- Economic developments (globalization of economy)
- Regulatory, trade and economic policies (deregulation)
- Technological innovations (information/computer technology)
- Changing worker demographics and labor supply (aging population)
Organizational culture and climate set the tone for…
- Worker communication patterns
- Prioritization of tasks
- Worker behavior
- Nature of worker interactions
Other organizational structures include…
- Organizational mission and philosophy
- Size of the organization
- Physical arrangement
- Organization’s service or product
Relationships with managers and supervisors are determined by…
The management styles that prevail in the organization
Management styles determine the following:
- Level of communication
- Decision-making power
- Level of control experienced by worker
Types of co-worker relationships
- Supportive
- Nonsupportive
- Conflictual
With co-worker support workers are less likely to experience…
Fatigue and exhaustion
Strong co-worker support has been associated with…
- Better employee retention rates
2. Higher levels of job satisfaction
Workers who perceive low co-worker support are at higher risk for…
- Occupational injury
2. Widespread chronic pain
Meaning of work
- Basic to one’s sense of his/her own social or personal identity
- Symbol of personal achievement and values
- Viewed as an important responsibility
Personal attributes of workers
- Demographic attributes of workers
- Personality traits
- Feelings about work
- Spirituality
- Levels of motivation
Social networks can affect…
- Workers attitudes about work
- Response to occupational illness or injury
- Ability to return to work when an illness or injury occurs
Worker’s level of job satisfaction is related to…
- Structure of work
- Organizational culture and climate
- Interpersonal relationships at work
Workplace violence
- An act of aggression that causes physical or psychological harm to a worker in the course of his or her work day.
- A serious and potentially deadly workplace hazard
Only a small portion of violent events in the workplace are of this type
Mass murder by a disgruntled employee
Majority of violent incidents in the workplace include:
- Threats
- Harassment
- Bullying
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Intimidation
- Stalking
- Other assaults
Four categories of workplace violence
- Type I
- Type II
- Type III
- Type IV
Type I workplace violence
- most common category
- describes incidents in which the violence is associated with the commitment of a crime
- most cases the perpetrator has no legitimate relationship with the employer or the worksite
Groups of workers likely to experience Type I workplace violence
- Taxi drivers
- Workers at late night establishments
- Workers in isolated or dangerous areas
- Workers who handle money
What percentage of violent incidents are Type I workplace violence
80%
Type II workplace violence
- involves a worker-client relationship
- incidents occur in course of doing business
Definition of client as it pertains to Type II workplace violence
- Customer
- Patient
- Student
- Inmate
- Other recipient of services
Workers most likely to experience Type II workplace violence
Health care professionals
Hospital areas most likely to be the setting for Type II workplace violence
- Psychiatric facilities
- Emergency rooms
- Admitting areas
- Intensive or critical care units
- Medical response units
Type III workplace violence
- includes worker-worker incidents
- perpetrators in this category are current or past employees who threaten or attack other current or past employees
Commonly Type III incidents result from
- Personality conflict
- Mishandled termination
- Mishandled disciplinary action
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- A grudge over a real or imagined grievance
Warning signs of Type III workplace violence
- Belligerence
- Hypersensitivity to criticism
- Preoccupation with violent themes
- Outbursts of anger
- Other noticeable changes in behavior
Workplace factors that contribute to workplace violence
- Understaffing that leads to job overload and compulsory overtime
- Frustrations arising from poorly defined tasks and responsibilities
- Downsizing and reorganization
- Labor disputes and poor labor management relations
- Poor management styles
- Inadequate security or poorly trained, poorly motivated security force
- A lack of employed counseling
Poor management styles that contribute to workplace violence
- Arbitrary or unexplained orders
- Over monitoring
- Corrections or reprimands in front of other employees
- Inconsistent discipline
Cues to problem situations in the workplace
- High injury rate
2. Frequent employee grievances
Type IV workplace violence
- called personal relationship
- involves persons who have a personal relationship with a worker
- often spill-overs of domestic violence
Events in Type IV workplace violence category
- Stalking
- Threats
- Harassment
—– of workplace homicides are related to domestic violence
5%
Most preventable categories of workplace violence
Type III and Type IV
Homicide is the —— leading cause of job related death among all workers in the US
Third
Homicide is the ——- leading cause of workplace fatalities among women
Second
On average —- workers per week are murdered
13
Homicide accounts for —- of all fatal injuries
11.3%
Homicide accounts for —- of occupational deaths among women
31%
Primary motive for job related homicide
Robbery
Robbery accounts for —– of work related homicide
75%
Disputes among coworkers and with customers account for —– of the total number of deaths
10%
Worker groups with the highest rates of work related homicides
- Sales workers
- Taxi drivers
- Chauffeurs
- Law enforcement officers
Homicide risk for taxi drivers
41.4 per 100,000 persons
There are approximately ——- assaults and threats of violence against American workers each year
1.7 million
Non fatal workplace assaults are slightly more likely to occur among —– than among —–
Women
Men
Non fatal violence is more likely to result from….
Anger or frustration of customers, clients or coworkers
Most non fatal workplace assaults occur in service settings such as:
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Social service agencies
Healthcare patients commit —— of no fatal assaults in the workplace
48%
Risk factors for workplace violence
- Contact with the public
- Exchange of money
- Delivery of passengers, goods or services
- Having a mobile workplace such as taxi or police cruiser
- Working with unstable or volatile persons in healthcare, social services or criminal justice settings
- Working alone or in small numbers
- Working late at night or during early morning hours
- Working in high crime areas
- Guarding valuable property or possessions
- Working in community based settings
According to OSHA at a minimum workplace violence programs and services should do the following:
- Establish and widely disseminate a clear zero tolerance policy for all types of violence
- Ensure workers who report threats do not receive any type of reprisal
- Encourage workers to promptly report incidents and suggest ways to eliminate risk
- Outline a comprehensive plan for maintaining security in the workplace
- Assign responsibility and authority to persons and teams with appropriate skills and ensure adequate resources are available
- Affirm management commitment to a work environment that places much importance on worker health and safety
- Set up a company briefing to address such issues as preserving safety, supporting affected employees and facilitating recovery
Engineering controls and workplace adaptations to prevent and control violence
- Security systems for use by staff
- Metal detectors at high risk doorways
- Closed circuit video recording in high risk areas
- Curved mirrors in hallway intersections and secluded areas
- Bullet resistant, shatterproof glass in reception, triage and admitting areas
- Furniture arranged to avoid entrapment of staff
- Limitation or elimination of items that can be used as weapons
- Two exits provided wherever possible
- Bright lighting indoors, outdoors and in parking areas
- Lockable secure restrooms for staff, separate from visitor facilities
- Locks on rarely used doors
- Vehicles used in the field maintained in good working condition
Examples of security systems to be used by staff:
- Panic buttons
- Handheld noise devices
- Cellular phones
Administrative and work practice controls to prevent and control violence
- Conduct periodic workplace safety and security analyses
- Establish a zero tolerance violence policy
- Establish a trained response team to respond to emergencies
- Ensure adequate and qualified staffing at all times
- Provide management and administrative support during emergencies
- Control access to areas other than waiting rooms or lobbies
- Prohibit employees from working alone in high risk areas
- Use adequate numbers of properly trained security personnel
- Provide security escort to parking lots
- Develop specific policies and procedures for off site workers safety
- Train workers in de-escalation and personal protection techniques
Behavior controls to prevent and control workplace violence include:
- Recognize and manage assaults when they occur
- Use nonviolent response and conflict resolution
- Maintain hazard awareness within the workplace
Workplace mistreatment or harassment
- Any act against an employee that creates a hostile work environment and negatively affects the employee either physically or psychologically
- Includes hostile verbal and nonverbal behaviors directed at obtaining compliance from others
Examples of workplace mistreatment include:
- Yelling
- Using derogatory names
- Shunning
- Ridiculing someone in front of others
Most of the perpetrators of workplace mistreatment in an academic setting were—–
Males
Sexual harassment
-Consists of any unwanted verbal or physical sexual advance
Sexual harassment can include and consist of any of the following range of activities:
- Sexual comments and suggestions
- Pressure for sexual favors accompanied by threats concerning ones job
- Physical assault
- Rape
——– of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work
40-60%
Sexual harassment of nurses in the workplace can….
Increase anxiety and impair their ability to provide safe and competent care
Studies have found links between unemployment and increased rates of…
- Smoking
- Depression
- Drug use
- Subsequent stroke
Underemployed workers include:
- Contingent
- Temporary
- Part time
The rate of growth in the temp industry continues to…
Outstrip the rate of overall job growth
Temporary or contingent workers are less likely than permanent workers to…
Have health insurance or employer provided pensions
Downsizing
An intentional reduction of work force as a means of improving efficiency and effectiveness within an organization
Survivors of downsizing experience…
- Increased workloads
- Lowered trust in management
- Diminishing job security
- Decreased morale
Studies show that stress of hospital downsizing and restructuring led to ———– in nurses
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Reported health effects related to threats to employment security
- Sleep disorders
- Increased blood pressure
- Increases in cholesterol levels
In 2000 approximately —– of the American work force were shift workers working evening, night or rotating shifts
20%
What type of shift rotation is better in terms of helping workers adjust to changes in sleep patterns?
Forward rotation
Suggestions for improving shift work schedules
- Avoid permanent nights
- Keep consecutive night shifts to minimum
- Avoid quick shift changes
- Allow some free weekends
- Avoid several days of work followed by mini vacations
- Keep long work shifts and overtime to a minimum
- Consider different lengths for shifts
- Keep schedule regular and predictable
- Examine rest breaks
- Examine start-end times
Ideally how many consecutive night shifts in a row can be worked
2 to 4 days in a row before a couple of days off
What constitutes a quick shift change?
Less than 10 hours between shifts
Ideally how many weekends per month should be free?
2 weekends per month
How many 12 hour shifts in a row should be the maximum?
2 or 3 in a row
Why should you examine red breaks for shift workers?
Shift workers may need more than the standard coffee and lunch breaks
Short term effects of shift work
- Sleep deprivation
- Disturbance of circadian rhythms
- Decreased work performance
- Increased risk of accidents
Long term effects of shift work
- Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Coronary artery disease
- Adverse pregnancy outcomes
Working conditions that avoid adding strain of shiftworkers
- Adequate lighting
- Clean air
- Proper heat and air conditioning
- Reduced noise
Shift workers may be more sensitive to toxic substances because of….
Changes in circadian rhythm
Workload
Refers to the total information load that a worker is required to perceive and interpret while performing tasks
Workload overload
Occurs when the information processing load is greater than the workers information processing capability
Workload underload
Occurs when the information processing is not challenging enough for the worker; underload results in monotonous, boring work
Role stress
Results from an interpretation of one’s role within an organization
Role conflict
Occurs when a worker experiences conflicting demands or is required to perform a task that is outside of perceived requirements
—– of workers are affected by role conflict at some time on their work life
48%
Role ambiguity
Results from lack of clarity about the scope and responsibilities of the job
About ——- of US workers are affected by role ambiguity
35-60%
Electronic performance monitoring in the workplace has led to….
Increased
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger
- Fatigue
Changes in organizational practices in the New Economy
- Companies have restructured and outsourced many functions
- Organizations are adopting new and flatter management structures and implementing more flexible and lean production technologies
Results of new high tech equipment and machinery
- Eliminated and threatened some jobs
2. Some workers jobs have become deskilled
Increased globalization of workplaces has led to the development of….
- Multinational companies
- Increased competition
- Decreased profitability
Because of decreased profitability from an increase in globalization of business management is no longer willing to honor its ——- with workers
Social contract
Social contract with workers
Managements commitment to maintain decent wages and working conditions in return for some job security and a rising standard of living
For many US workers international competition has resulted in….
- Lower wages
- Compulsory overtime
- Increased pace of work
- Decreased attention to occupational health and safety
Technostress
Stress stemming from new and multiple technologies
The number of telecommuters increased by —– between 2001 and 2003
40%
By 2003 it was estimated that approximately —— US employees engaged in some form of telecommuting at least one day per month
40 million
Psychologic well being effects of telework and telecommuting
- needs further research
- hypothesized that employers expectation for greater performance and accountability has potential to increase pressures
- effects are complex and significant
Occupational stress
The harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources or needs of the worker
Stress can either be a —– or —— influence on one’s sense of well being
Positive
Negative
Positive stress
Eustress
Negative stress
Distress
Stressors
Refer to the physical or psychologic demands or stimuli to which an individual or worker group must adjust
Stress reaction occurs when….
There is a mismatch between the work conditions and the individual worker
Acute stress reaction
Refers to the initial and relatively brief biobehavioral and neuroendocrine fight-or-flight reaction to a stressor
Chronic stress reactions
Long term stress reactions or strains that involve the mobilization of the neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter systems affecting every organ system
Chronic stress reactions may be manifested as:
- Physiologic responses
- Psychologic responses
- Behavioral responses
Northwest National Life Survey in 1991 found that —— of US employees surveyed their jobs as very or extremely stressful
40%
According to AAOHN, nearly —- of the American workforce claim that an episode of violence against an employee occurred within their workforce
20%
About two thirds of occupational stress that results in days away from work is experienced by—— , in contrast half of all occupational injuries and illnesses occur to ——-
White collar workers
Blue collar workers
——- are more strongly associated with health complaints than any other life stressor
Problems at work
Nearly 50% of states in the US allow workers’ compensation claims for….
- Emotional disorders
2. Stress related disability
Job conditions that can lead to stress identified by NIOSH
- Excessive workload
- Lack of rest breaks
- Long work hours
- Shift work
- Monotonous and boring tasks
- Management style that precludes worker’s participation in decision making
- Interpersonal relationships that result in poor social environment and lack of support from coworkers and supervisors
- Work roles with conflicting and uncertain job expectations
- Work roles with too much responsibility
- Work roles with “too many hats to wear”
- Career concerns
- Environmental conditions
Management style that precludes worker’s participation in decision making results in…..
Poor communication between workers and supervisors or workers and coworkers
Examples if career concerns that called to stress
- Job insecurity
2. Lack of opportunity for growth, advancement or promotion
Environmental conditions that can led to stress
Unpleasant and dangerous physical conditions
Stress is manifested by an array of…..
Physiologic, psychologic and behavioral disorders
——- is one of the most prevalent psychologic conditions observed in the occupational setting
Depression
One study found that depressed workers had between —- and —- more short term work disability days in a 30 day period than other workers
- 5
3. 2
The prevalence of PTSD in urban US firefights and paramedics has been documented to exceed…..
20%
Burnout is….
A psychological syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment
Emotional exhaustion
Refers to feelings of being emotionally overextended and depleted of one’s emotional resources
Depersonalization
Refers to a negative, callous or excessively detached response to other people
Reduced personal accomplishment
Refers to a decline in one’s feelings of competence and successful achievement in one’s work
——– has been directly correlated with the amount of stress experienced by workers
Substance abuse
One study demonstrated a direct relationship between ———– and increased use of substances
Job complexity
Epidemiologic research has documented a relationship between job conditions and certain types of physiologic responses, including the following:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Gastrointestinal conditions
- Impaired immune functioning
Examples of cardiovascular diseases that have a documented relationship to job conditions
- HTN
2. MI
Examples of musculoskeletal disorders that have a documented relationship to job conditions
- Headaches
- Myofascial back pain
- Upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders
Examples of gastrointestinal conditions that have a documented relationship to job conditions
- Peptic ulcers
- Gastritis
- Other digestive disorders
Studies have found a relationship between dissatisfaction with work status and…….
The risk of low back pain
Best predictor of chronicity of musculoskeletal pain
Psychosocial factors
Pain-related disability has its genesis in ————–after a problem (injury) occurs
The first few days or weeks
One study found that even a month of high levels of job stress dramatically increased an individual’s susceptibility to……
Common cold viral infections
Behavioral responses at inordinate workplace stress can lead to:
- Work performance decrements
- Decreased attention/concentration
- Increased distractibility
- Increased muscle tension
- Poor judgement
- Irritation
- Self neglect (poor nutrition, lack of exercise)
- Interpersonal conflict
- Homicide or suicide
Organizations experience both —— and —— effects from stress
Tangible
Intangible
Examples of tangible effects from stress on an organization
- Workers’ compensation costs
2. Lost work days
Examples of intangible effects from stress on an organization
- Lowered worker morale
2. Increased interpersonal conflict
Work performance is measured by……
- Productivity
2. Quality of work
Research suggests that policies benefiting worker health also benefit…..
The bottom line because of better productivity and fewer performance errors
Healthy organizations are those organizations that have…..
Low rates of illness, injuries and disabilities and that are competitive in the marketplace
Examples of characteristics that are associated with low-stress work and high levels of productivity include:
- Recognition of employees for good work performance
- Opportunities for career development
- An organizational culture that values the individual worker
- Management actions that are consistent with organizational values
Claims for ——– are the most costly claims in the workers’ compensation system
Stress-related conditions
Stressful working conditions are associated with…..
- Increased absenteeism
- Tardiness
- Increased insurance costs
- Worker turnover
Estimated losses to the US economy because of stress related illnesses, injuries, workers’ compensation claims and decreased productivity range between…..
$200 and $300 billion annually
