Problem: Stress at the workplace has become an increasing phenomenon due to external factors such as technological advancement, changes in the economy of a country which might lead to becoming redundant and so on. Stress can be considered as an inevitable condition at least at one point in time or another; however it can also be minimized to the extent that the productivity and health of the employee is maintained which could lead to a productive organization. Stress is also bound to occur in multinational companies where operation is global and employees have different cultural background.Purpose: Our purpose for this study is to have a clear understanding of the causes of stress at a multinational company such as Volvo Trucks AB Umeå, and how Stress by the employees as well as the company’s management are managed or handled.Methodology: This thesis has been made using qualitative approach, with a descriptive and exploratory case study approach. The data used are collected through conducting semi-structured interviews with 6 different employees from Volvo Trucks AB, Umeå one of whom works as a therapist at the company.Findings: The causes of stress at the work place range from personal problems to work overload, physical working environment, work situation and conflicts among colleagues and managers. Many employees struggle with stress, in worst cases leading to uncertainties and severe impairments on health and performance. The main situations that generate stress are likely uncontrollable, unpredictable, and some are not known. But alternatively there are several resources available like personal awareness in coping skills. For example: time management, assertiveness, ways to higher up self-confidence and so on. Management can also utilize some resources for reducing the stress level of the employees by providing services and facilities such as health facilities at the company, giving easy and on time access to therapist and also having free time activities and entertainment. Stress is related between the employee and the employer as the performance of the employee is affected by his/her stress level which intern affects the company’s productivity. Therefore stress management is Vital for both. The most successful stress management mechanisms found was time management, sharing of feelings and leisure activities.

I have been interested in the topic I chose for my diploma thesis since I was deciding on my future profession. When it comes to the teaching profession, usually the idea of summer holidays attracts everyone. However, the stress that teachers face in performing this profession is not so much talked about. Therefore, I decided to learn more about this issue. This thesis deals specifically with stress in primary school teachers, to which teachers are increasingly exposed, and the word stress is very often associated with this profession. For several years I personally worked as a teaching assistant in a special school and now I teach Czech to foreigners at a primary school in Pilsen. Also for this reason, I decided to map the stress of primary school teachers. I would like to continue working in this profession, as well as working on my personal growth and finding a way to effectively prevent stress. The thesis is divided into two parts. In the theoretical part, I define the terms load and stress first and cite some well-known authors dealing with this issue. I also describe the symptoms of stress of various kinds and its consequences for our health. In the following chapter I describe individual stressors, which have a significant effect on the teacher's work performance. The chapter describing...

Die doelwit van hierdie navorsing was om die ervaring van stres deur vroulike werknemers van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) te ondersoek. Die Wet op Gelyke Indiensneming (Wet 55 van 1998), het vroue geïdentifiseer as deel van voorheen benadeelde groepe in ons land, Die arbeidsmark is hierdeur ook vir vroue toeganklik gemaak. Beroepsvroue word oorlaai deur veeleisende rolle. Hulle is dikwels enkelouers wat in hul beroepe gehaltewerk moet lewer terwyl hulle ook soms versorgers van familielede is. Die Werk- en Leefomstandighedevraelys (WLV) en biografiese vraelys is as navorsingsinstrumente aangewend om vlakke en oorsake van stres by SAPD-vroue te meet. Die resultate het aangedui dat beide groepe op loopbaanaangeleenthede hoë stresvlakke ervaar. Vroue in operasionele posisies het hoë stresvlakke ervaar rakende werktoerusting, organisatoriese eise, vergoeding en ander byvoordele. Vroeë loopbaangerigtheid en loopbaanbeplanning kan stres van vroulike SAPD-lede verminder. Die aanspreek van pos-spesifieke faktore kan stresvlakke van SAPD-vroue in operasionele posisies verder verlaag. / This study aimed to investigate the experience of stress among female staff of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The Employment Equity Act (Act 55 of 1998), identified females as part of previously disadvantaged groups in our country, and opened the labour market, including the SAPS, to women. Employed females are often overburdened by their demanding roles, being expected to deliver quality work in addition to bearing the responsibilities as single parents and carers for relatives. The Experience of Work and Life Circumstances Questionnaire (EWLQ) and a biographical questionnaire were utilised for measuring the levels and causes of stress among female SAPS staff. The results indicated that both groups experienced high stress levels in one dimension, namely career opportunities. Females in operational roles experienced high stress levels regarding resoures, organisational demands, remuneration and benefits. Early career orientation and planning may reduce the stress experienced by female staff of the SAPS. / Dept. of Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Bedryf- en Organisasiesielkunde)

本研究は、介護労働者の職場定着のあり方について、就業前から就業後にかけての職業キャリアに着目しながら分析し、主に教育・研修等の人材育成の視点から実証的に考察した。検証の結果、労働環境の整備、教育機関との連携、介護の社会的意義等の理解促進等の人材確保策、職業キャリアに着目した労働条件の改善とメンタルヘルス対策及び能力等に対する目標設定と評価基準の導入、並びに職員への教育や指導で生じる負担軽減等の職場定着策、コミュニケーション能力向上を目的とした教育・研修及び非正規職員への教育・研修、並びに実施した研修・講習の効果測定等の人材確保策を提起した。 / 博士(政策科学) / Doctor of Philosophy in Policy and Management / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University