Workplace stress can be as bad as inhaling secondhand smoke. This is according to a recent scientific review by researchers at Harvard Business School and Stanford University.
How can stress in the workplace pose detrimental effects on health? According to their meta-analysis of over 225 studies, they studied the effects of ten stressors in the workplace and their effects on physical health, mental health, morbidity and mortality. Thus, among the studies conducted on the topic, they observed that all work-related stress could contribute to health risks that have a similar effect of that of secondhand smoke, reported Pioneer News.
Hence, stress at work can also be as bad as lack of exercise or an unhealthy diet. All of which can pose serious and detrimental effects on the cardiovascular and over-all health of the person.
"When you think about how much time individuals typically spend at work, it's not that surprising", says study co-author Joel Goh, an assistant professor of business administration at Harvard Business School in a report by KRWG News.
They found out that high job demands could increase the risk of becoming sick or ill by 35% and working for long hours could increase the chances of early death by 20%. They are recommending that employers should implement programs or interventional care at the workplace.
"Wellness programs are great at doing what they're designed to do," says Joel Goh said. "But they're targeting [employee behavior], not targeting the cause of stress. There are two sides of the equation and right now we focus on one side. We're trying to call attention to the other side [of the equation], which is the effect of managerial practices."
Relaxation tips are helpful in relieving the stress of employees. Furthermore, getting enough sleep, eating right and daily exercise are all helpful in maintaining a healthy body.
