Systemic organizational stress and it's affect on the human resource professional
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Authors
Klein, Sally R.
Issue Date
2004
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Psychology
Alternative Title
Abstract
As indicated earlier, the cost of stress to U.S. Businesses is between $200 and $300 billion annually. We have established that stress is present in Corporate America and within the HR profession. To be able to reduce the stress experienced in the workplace would benefit not only the business community but the employees as well. Much of the literature deals with stress from an individual standpoint. However, it is also important to explore systemic causes of stress within the organization. In studying systemic stress within the HR profession, the business community will benefit in two aspects. It will identify ways to support the HR team and it will help to uncover the "invisible" systemic conditions that may be contributing to the overall stress within the organization.
In the October 2002 issue of HR Focus, a survey of 154 senior HR professionals was conducted. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those professionals said they were near or at the burnout level. If our HR professions are being affected to that degree by organizational stress and burning out at that rate, then how can we expect our workforce to remain competitive in this new global economy? Organizational psychology has demonstrated how important it is for business leaders to collaborate with employees instead of utilizing an outdated hierarchical and paternalistic style of managing. It is imperative that HR professionals represent the function from a strategic standpoint. This includes understanding and nurturing the organizational culture and psychological contract entered into with employees, matching the right position to the right candidate, establishing systems within the organization to monitor performance and compensation, training leaders to manage in an autonomous manner, and dealing with all individuals in a humanistic approach. Stress that is not identified and rectified can destroy the very fabric of an organization from the inside.