Job stress is something we all face as employees — and we all treat it differently.  Job stress is often caused by a large number of elements such as changes in management, long working hours, roadblocks to career advancement, compounded competition, high pressure deadlines, work overburden, excessive rules and regulations, lack of involvement in decision making, new technology, inadequate back up, conflicting demands from organisational stakeholders, and personal differences

Job stress is often confused with challenge, but these concepts are not the equal.  Job stress is the adverse emotional and physical responses resulting from the fundamental interaction* between the worker and her/his work surroundings where the demands of the job outstrip the worker’s capabilities and resources.  Research indicates that the single biggest cause of job stress is unhealthy work practices and conditions.  Put differently, unlike pressure or challenge, job stress is marked by an absence of control and  of being swamped at work.  While Job Stress is listed as the number one stress producer, tension levels have also escalated in youngsters, teenagers, university student and the aged.  One-third think they’ll burn-out in the near future, and one-third feel that job stress is the one biggest source of stress in their lives.