Stress and Motivation in the Workplace

The question posed by the student was:

Describe in detail some of the signs you would be looking for when feeling extreme stress from job burnout and what steps should be taken to overcome this condition. Do you believe continuing to work for a lengthy period of time in a job where you are not motivated is destructive not only to you, but also to others in the company?

This solution provides two discusses, one that identifies what signs to watch for when stress arises; and a second part that explains why burnout can be related to a length of service in the same job. With stress, some employees may exhibit opposite behavior - such as those who are normally outgoing, suddenly become withdrawn. Others may go from being helpful to acting rude. A common sign of stress are frequent absences and a negative attitude. It is vital for employers to "step in" early to help employees manage stress. Motivation is key for employees; it is what gets them out the door and to the job everyday. When this declines, production suffers. Some employees become bored doing the same job for years. Employers may want to consider cross-training so employees have the ability to try different tasks. In 350 words, this solution covers both stress and the implications of motivation in the workplace.