The measurement of work stress within South African companies: a luxury or necessity?

Abstract

The measurement of work stress within South African companies: a luxury or necessity? South Africans seem to be experiencing various causes of and very high levels of stress. To reduce the costs of stress within the South African organizational context, more attention should be paid to the measurement of stress which can serve as a starting point for the handling of stress. The first step towards determining levels and causes of stress within and outside theorganizational context, is to acknowledge different responses to stress across various cultural groups. Furthermore it is important to see the measurement of stress as a process. Various methods of measuring stress are discussed. Attention is also devoted to the question as to which group to start with.

Opsomming
Suid-Afrikaners blyk ‘n verskeidenheid oorsake van stres en baie hoë vlakke van stres te ervaar. Om die koste van hoë stres binne die Suid-Afrikaanse organisasiekonteks te verminder, is dit belangrik om meer aandag aan die meting van die stres te gee wat kan dien as ‘n beginpunt om stres sinvol te hanteer. Die eerste stap in die meting van vlakke en oorsake van stres binne en buite organisasieverband, is om die verskillende response van die onderskeie kulturele groepe te erken. Verder is dit belangrik om stresmeting as ‘n proses te beskou. Verskillende metodes van stresmeting word bespreek. Aandag word ook gegee aan die vraag met watter groep begin moet word.