Stress

The club industry is one example of a stressful workplace. Working hours are longer than the required number of hours and shifts are often turbulent. Hence, normal social activities are often compromised resulting to the lack of quality time with family and friends.

Stress in the workplace often cause adverse effect on the workers. Under State and Territory health and safety laws, employers have a legal duty to provide a healthy and safe workplace and safe working system. This includes ensuring that the risk of stress is minimized or completely eliminated.

Health effects of stress

  • Frequent headaches
  • Back pains and other muscular pains
  • Cramps in the neck, shoulder or arms
  • Poor memory or trouble in concentrating
  • Feeling frustrated, irritable or angry
  • Feeling weepy or tearful
  • Loss of energy and motivation.
  • Feeling anxious, helpless or afraid
  • Apathy or hopelessness
  • Changes in appetite and weight
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Constant fatigue and exhaustion
  • Generally feeling worn out or run down

Causes of work-related stress

  • Communication difficulties between workers and management
  • Bullying, harassment or intimidation
  • Work overload
  • Job insecurity
  • Too much changes in the structure of a workplace
  • Understaffing
  • Inadequate resources
  • Unresolved health and safety issues
  • Excessive performance monitoring
  • Poor work organization
  • Insufficient training
  • Long working hours
  • Difficulties in dealing with clients
  • Lack of control over how work is done

Eliminating or reducing work – related stress

  • Proper communication between the management and workers must be enacted to ensure that both parties understand the expectations of the job and the arrangement of the work situation
  • Discourage excessive overtime with appropriate pay arrangements
  • Provide workers with sufficient rest time to allow recuperation from the possible physical and mental effects of work
  • Maintain realistic targets ensure that workloads are properly distributed
  • Provide adequate leave provisions such as family and sick leave
  • Avoid performance or target-based pay systems
  • Maintain safe and comfortable work environments
  • Eradicate and control health and safety hazards