Its Sutton Coldfield

I'm not stressed at work. Sometimes annoyed, and with shifts at this point in the season frequently bored (guess where i am this evening), but not more than that thankfully.

I've been in jobs where i have got very stressed and depressed, and tend to just leave at that point, cos its not worth the hassle.

The articles point about feeling you are doing something worthwhile is a good one. What i do isn't amazingly important, but the system i'm supporting could make a difference to road safety so thats good. And when i've sorted a problem for someone then that always makes me feel a bit useful.

When i did telephone banking, the system they used didn't work well so i felt i spent my days making people's lives much more annoying than was necessary. After 6 months i had to go.

I don't tend to get stressed really. Today I got as close I tend to get, but that was just exhaustion from running around all day and being slightly annoyed with a few people. But even then it just takes someone making a joke and I'll snap out of it.

But birthdays off and daily hugs sounds like a cool idea to me!

edited for language content. Please bear with us until we have a confirmed policy on this. Thanks!

(Edited by Desire 27/03/2002 00:03)

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by Vix

Are you stressed? If so, what stresses you - the hours, the workload, your colleagues, the journey? (The whole "getting out of bed" scenario?)

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Yes, I have to say my job stresses me out. As to what makes me feel that way, I think a liitle of "all of the above".

I can't decide whether or not it is the fact that I work most evenings and at least one day on the weekend effectively unpaid overtime, or maybe that I feel I cannot do my job properly without resourcing at least some aspects of it myself (which leads to a lot less money to decorate my bathroom). Perhaps it is the number of deadlines I have to reach every hour/day/week that I find most tiresome, or possibly the fact that I feel physically drained after every day.

I am very lucky in that my colleagues are wonderfully supportive. I know that if I were to get a similar job in another location it would be very hard to find such a great team again. I really landed on my feet there!

The journey used to stress me out, but I have this year started travelling an hour earlier so that I can get more done at work, and as a beneficial side effect found that I miss the bulk of the traffic and save money on petrol too!

One thing I did find quite interesting is that my monthly journal has recently started publishing a double page spread on stress relief, which if quite telling, I feel.

For me the main sources of woe at work are - too little time, too many things outside my control which impact on my ability to do my job, and too many stupid people.

Don't have to travel to work, 15 minute walk - which is nice. Birthday off wouldn't be my first choice for motivational gimmick, as I try to avoid celebrating my birthday and don't take many days of work.

(Edited by Callum 27/03/2002 00:32)

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by Vix
Listening to the lunchtime news today, I caught a report about stress in the UK, where we rank in relation to our European counterparts and how we deal with it. An article can be found here:

news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1894000/1894560.stm

The report talked about a company in (I think) Sutton Coalfield (sp?) which gave its workers the day off on their birthday, and where everyone started the day by hugging their immediate colleagues.

"Murdering your boss" aside, what would make you less stressed at work? Are you stressed? If so, what stresses you - the hours, the workload, your colleagues, the journey? (The whole "getting out of bed" scenario?)

For me, it's that we are a very small team with a huge workload, and a boss that volunteers us for all the projects that don't fall naturally somewhere else. On second thoughts, I rescind the "murdering your boss" limitation

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I'm stressed at work .... and I stay at home 24/7 would be nice to know if there's an article somewhere that focuses on Mothers stresses. If someone can find one for me can they mail me the link (thanks)
sange@tangent21.com

what used to stress me was the lack of freedom. If i wanted a day off i'd have to book 2 weeks in advance. Or for a dental appointment or something, i'd have to make the time up.

I was totally unappriceated too. A perfect example was once i was coming in an hour early (unpaid) each day to clear my work, i had to take 5 mins to move my car 'cos a traffic warden was about and they said i had to make the time up. My hours over time didnt matter 'cos "it was my choice to come in early". I never did another minutes unpaid over time again.

I work for myself now, havent taken a sickie since i started (not even when ill) because i know if i want time off, i can have it. Kind of takes the thrill our of a sickie when your the boss

I never felt rewarded for doing a job well so i didnt do it well. Now i feel a sence of satisfaction when i do my work so i enjoy it more.

me stressed? hah no way i don't do anywork i take a book into work find a quiet office and read or phone people up. and sange you wouldn't be stressed if you let me marry you, i'd take care of the kids

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by Sweet-Sange
(quotes)I'm stressed at work .... and I stay at home 24/7 would be nice to know if there's an article somewhere that focuses on Mothers stresses. If someone can find one for me can they mail me the link (thanks)
sange@tangent21.com

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Hehe SNAP!!

I think alot of people forget that us stay at home Mums can get stressed too , the demands of a baby wanting constant attention, the housework, the cooking, the cleaning, the general household bills to juggle, being a doctor, nurse, wife, mother, accountant, personal shopper, taxi driver etc etc - heck..... I want a pay rise

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by Jola
(quotes)

I want a pay rise

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First you need to get paid

I do agree, I feel (and I'm sure the other working parents do too) that I've got two full time jobs, one I get paid for and one I don't... the normal stresses and strains that go with that are trebled (tripled?) with a boss who has no children and doesn't quite understand that Ben comes before my job every time. Unfortunately, it seems to be that if you don't get paid, it isn't classed as a real job