Stress has long been a cause for concern in the workplace. In fact, over the years, study after study has indicated just how severe an impact stress can have on workers and this has never been more evident than during the coronavirus pandemic. Stress can come from any source inside or outside of the workplace but usually is not all-encompassing in both areas of a worker’s life.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has placed a huge amount of stress on literally every worker’s home life as well as life on the job. If ever there was any doubt as to the effect stress can have on a worker’s performance, and indeed their mental health, the pandemic has highlighted just how serious an issue this is.
Stress in ‘Normal’ Times
It seems like years since workers were facing norms in stress that affected their performance at work. While it wasn’t always work-related, many of those triggers carried over from other areas of their lives which, in the long run, did affect their ability to stay on task and do their jobs well. Unfortunately, there are many factors involved, usually subdivided into psychological and physical stressors.
Then there is a further division as to what can be classified as a work-related trigger and those issues carried over from home. With all of these factors already leading to an inordinate amount of stress on the job, adding the pandemic into the mix has exacerbated an already volatile situation.
Break Time
Maybe before looking closer at stress and how it affects a person’s ability to do their job, it might be a good idea to understand just how important it is to take a step back once in a while for a moment’s rest and relaxation. Some of the following information may even add to the stress you are currently experiencing and this is exactly why you should leave the work at work, and the home at home!
Some upper-level administrators take periodic weekend breaks to casinos and resorts, but they are in the minority. Most people simply cannot afford that luxury and so they scout out other forms of entertainment they can enjoy from home. There is a growing interest in online casinos like Play Live where you can get all the same rewards as in land-based casinos without all the added worry of being exposed to Covid-19. You can play at Play Live with real money and are paid in real money, yet you aren’t surrounded by global travelers carrying any kind of variant yet to be identified.
A Look at Some Statistics Coming Out of the United States
Now that break time is over, it’s time to get back to business. One recent study coming out of a large group of hospitals in New York indicates that the amount of stress directly related to the coronavirus pandemic has workers in all 19 of the Spring Health group of hospitals weighing in on what this added stress has caused them. With 20 of their colleagues already lost to the pandemic, there is added stress that they, too, will be infected.
They’ve taken a look at the current situation across all states and in a sampling of all industries. The results indicate that:
- 76% of United States employees (in all sectors) are burnt out
- 57% admit that COVID-19 is a factor in burn-out
- 33% of workers polled are also concerned with politics
These are key indicators, not only in the U.S., but in countries all around the globe. With cases surging once again, these figures are expected to rise exponentially. Psychologists and medical doctors alike are urging their patients to take a deep breath and step back for even a short period of recharging.
Anxiety, Depression and Eventual Burnout
For those who have already suffered from COVID-19, there is concern that they will exhibit what is being called “long COVID,” which is permanent damage to one or more of the worker’s organs. Not only is this adding to anxiety, depression, and burnout but it may also leave them unable to perform the duties for which they were hired. Now it’s an even deeper level of anxiety they bring with them to the job and something that’s not easily remedied.
The bottom line is that there is nothing new about anxiety, depression and all levels of stress impacting a worker’s ability to do their jobs well. What is new is that now a global pandemic is added into the mix which just adds to an already worrisome problem in today’s workforce. More than ever before it is crucial to take a few steps back in an effort to leave the worries behind. Take that much-needed break and if you can’t take a weekend jaunt to a resort or casino, at least play a few live games online. Remember, stress is something you can work to control, so maybe it’s time you did just that.
