The number of workers in Israel who claim to very stressed while at work has doubled in recent years to 40%, according to a survey presented last week at the conference of the Israel Institute for Occupational Safety and Hygiene (IIOSH). The stress took the form of tension, fatigue, mental distress, sleep disorders, unease, poor concentration, bad temper and mental erosion over time.
According to Prof. Shmuel Melamed of the School of Public Health at Tel Aviv University, occupational stress was caused by workload, long work hours, conflicts, lack of control, noise exposure, overcrowding and uncertainty as result largely of lack of job security.
Presenting the survey at the conference, Prof. Melamed claimed that work-related stress not only harmed employees’ health and functioning, but it also caused significant harm to the Israeli economy. Although no figures on economic damage were collated, the survey suggested that work-related pressure was costing the US $150 billion a year and the UK ₤2 billion.
The high costs resulted largely from cardiovascular and hematological diseases that workers suffer from, in addition to diseases such as diabetes, depression, muscular problems and back pain, which lead to the early retirement of skilled workers and cost employers vast sums in compensation. Work-related stress also caused behavioral problems such as absenteeism and lateness, lack of motivation and poorer quality of work.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on December 31, 2006
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