Surf's up: Overcoming job stress

EVEN those of us who have had the good fortune to work for extended periods in an harmonious workplace have experienced occasional, often fortuitous, stressful episodes that are associated with our employment. Stressors in a work environment tend to be complex and often result from temporary errors in human judgment coupled with relentless behavior. Effects can be exacerbated by events such as high pressure assignments, business downsizing, outsourcing activities, mechanical or physical mishaps, unforeseen customer dissatisfaction, and changes in personal life situations. Personnel at all levels can be negatively affected by exposure to stressful situations. Productivity usually suffers when anxiety and tension exist among managers and coworkers. Websites abound that identify both professional mental health providers and avenues for self help. Below are examples of organizations and services that strive to provide guidance to companies and individuals for developing overall workplace contentment, composure, and trust. © 2006 IEEE.