The Programme of Occupational Health by the World Health Organization (WHO) published a series of occupational health documents entitled Protecting Workers’ Health. This is the result of the implementation effort of the Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All. Both the WHO and the International Labor Organization (ILO) recognize work stress as a major global challenge because it is a known deterrent to workers’ optimal performance as it affects workers’ health. Work stress also affects the overall healthiness of business organizations.

Stress is a result of the imbalance or mismatch between the demands and pressures on a person versus the person’s available capabilities in the form of knowledge and skills. It is the tipping point when someone realizes he is short of human powers to meet a demand. Stress almost always rests in the region of the mind even before it translates to any other manifestation such as physical proof of stress.

Stress is the challenge on a worker’s ability to cope with work. Often, it occurs when the pressures of work exceed the worker’s ability to cope. There are times, too, when a worker’s knowledge and abilities are not appropriately utilized, and this also results in work stress.

Workers who are stressed are apt to be unhealthy, uninspired to work, poorly motivated to succeed, less productive in their tasks, and less alert for the sake of safety at work. The organizations to which they belong become less successful in a competitive market.

Image

Via HELPGUIDE

The International Labor Organization estimates that as much as 231 million will be unemployed this year. The director general of the ILO, Juan Somavia of Chile, says that the financial crisis has become a ‘global job crisis.’ He reports, “The global unemployment could affect 231 million people in 2009, an increase of 52 million as compared to 2007.”

The head of the ILO regrets that the current economic climate “has threatened, in just a few months, much of the progress that the world has done over the past fifteen years in reducing poverty.”

In his view, the crisis was caused by an “unbalanced and unfair” model that has been implemented over the recent years. This model has, in his opinion, overvalued the role of the market, undervalued the role of government, and undermined the dignity of work and respect for the environment.”

Somavía explained that the situation is particularly difficult for developing countries, such as some of those in Latin America where rising unemployment has added an increase in poverty, with workers earning less than two dollars a day.

To exit the current situation, Somavia emphasized the importance of promoting the flow of capital to revitalize the economy and urged banks to lend money. “Banks need to revert to its traditional role of lending money to businesses and individuals, the real drivers of the economy. These invest, trade, and consume,” he said.

Image

Via International Labour Organization

An ILO report warned that the total number of unemployed could reach 230 million, and that 45 percent of these workers are below the poverty line. As a direct consequence of the global economic crisis, 2009 could add 50 million new unemployed worldwide. In 2007, nearly 180 million people were without work. According to the ILO, the estimate for 2009 provides for an increase in the number of unemployed between 18 and 30 million and up to 50 if the situation continues to deteriorate. This is on the assumption that the unemployment rate could rise to 7.1 percent.

Meanwhile, the number of working poor or people who do not earn enough to support themselves and their families above the poverty line of a $2 per day wage may increase to a total of 1,400 million. This figure represents 45 percent of workers worldwide. According to the report, “There will be an increase in the rate of unemployment in all scenarios, especially in developing countries.” The impact will be felt with particular strength in the Asian economies, the agency said, although unemployment has already reached high levels in industrialized countries.

The ILO says that their message is realistic, not alarmist. The world faces a crisis of global unemployment. Many governments are aware of the situation and are taking steps, but it is necessary to undertake more vigorous and coordinated actions to prevent a global recession. The reduction of poverty is declining and the global middle class is being eroded, according to ILO’s director general.

Image

Via LIVENEWS

The Programme of Occupational Health by the World Health Organization (WHO) published a series of occupational health documents entitled: Protecting Workers’ Health. These contain the implementation approaches of the Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All, a result of the Fourth Network Meeting of the WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health. The WHO, along with the International Labor Organization (ILO), recognizes stress as a world-wide major challenge to workers’ health and the wellbeing of their organizations.

In many countries, legislation mandates employers to take care of the health and safety of their workers. This duty includes the management of stress-related hazards, work stress, and basic mental and physical health of employees. Employers are advised to familiarize themselves with the relevant law in their country.

Corporate stress management is a complex process that includes the prevention of stress at the workplace, and where employees are already experiencing stress, the prevention of further and more serious damage to workers’ health by stress. Corporate management has seen the debilitating effects of work stress to the general health of their organization, as well as to the company’s bottom line.

Poor worker performance, increased absenteeism, decreased commitment to work, and increased staff turn-over are just some of the concrete manifestations of the effect of stress at the workplace. These manifestations subtract from the company’s ability to be competitive. That is why many companies and corporations have joined the work stress relief bandwagon, seemingly spoiling their employees in the process.

And most importantly, the uptrend in the relief of work stress has spawned an entire global industry of health professionals, occupational therapists, fitness instructors, dieticians, and the like to service the needs of thousands of corporations across the globe.

Image 1
Image 2

Via Clarity Seminars