A senior official of a labor union stated: “All stress management does is help people cope with poor management. [Employers] should really be into stress reduction.” Discuss the accuracy of this statement.

The union official is only partially correct, in that poor management undoubtedly contributes to the stress level of employees. However, poor management is not the only cause, nor is stress always work- related. Sometimes, the stress involves time-based, strain-based, or role-base conflicts.

Also, two individuals faced with the same stressors may not react in the same way, or experience the same level of stress. This is because individual differences in coping strategies, resiliency, and social support networks are important determining factors.

Educating employees about stress management techniques also helps them cope with stress from many other sources, and not just those created by poor managers.


The union official’s suggestion that management should try to reduce stress has merit. For example, instituting work-life balance initiatives, reducing harassment, and offering employee assistance programs have been shown to reduce stress levels for employees.

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