Career Development Handbook Career-Development-Handbook | Page 11

At other times, it may be more complicated, owing to misunderstanding and miscommunication and
that the misfit could not be fully eradicated. In which case, it may be possible for you to speak to
Human Resource to seek internal transfer, or if you are up for a new challenge, take on the role but
request for re-training, and finally, the last resort, would be to abandon ship. Part if you must, but
please part on happy terms. Never burn your bridges, for you will never know when you need to cross
them again.
c.7
Workplace Stress
The working environment has quite different dynamics from the classroom environment. Timelines
are stricter and shorter. Consequences become harsher and come quicker. Common sources of Work
Stress would include:
• Low salaries.
• Excessive workloads.
• Few opportunities for growth or advancement.
• Work that isn't engaging or challenging.
• Lack of social support within the organisation.
• Not having enough control over job-related decisions.
• Conflicting demands or unclear performance expectations.
Workplace stress can take a toll on your health, even if you are not aware of it. In the short term, a
stressful work environment can contribute to problems such as headache, stomach ache, sleep
disturbances, short temper and difficulty concentrating. Chronic stress can result in anxiety, insomnia,
high blood pressure and a weakened immune system. It can also contribute to health conditions such
as depression, obesity and heart disease. Compounding the problem, people who experience
excessive stress often deal with it in unhealthy ways such as overeating, eating unhealthy foods,
smoking cigarettes or abusing drugs and alcohol.
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