Abstract

This project gives us a detailed idea of what is stress and also the definition of
stress is been defined. For more detailed study the types of the stress is also
defined.

“Stress is not necessarily something bad – it all depends on how you take it. The
stress of exhilarating, creative successful work is beneficial, while that of failure,
humiliation or infection is detrimental.”

This research is to carry out the study that how much stressed the employees of
the banks are and how do their stress affect their work life, social life, output etc.
so a sample of 35 employees are selected from all the three banks for the
research of stress among them.

Usually, the population is too large for the researcher to attempt to survey all of
its members. A small, but carefully chosen sample can be used to represent the
population. The sample reflects the characteristics of the population from which it
is drawn.

This topic of research I choose to find out the stress level of bank employees and
the various methods and techniques to reduce their stress and also the reasons
behind the stress.

The research type is Descriptive Research, Non Probability Distribution.

1
Acknowledgement

To carry out this research work I have got the help from my parents and research
guide who have given full support to carry out this research work. They are the
one who motivated and helped for the completion of this project report.

Further, I would like to thank Mr. Chetan Trivedi (Assi.Branch Manager, U CO

Bank) and their employees who have given full supported and co operated with
me to carry out this research work. Then I would like to thank Mr.Ajit Sharma
(axis bank tatiband Raipur) who has supported me to fill the questionnaire and
carry on my research work. I am also thankful to the employees of bank who
have supported me. The Branch Manager of SBI bank and their employees who
have helped me for the project work by filling the questionnaire.

2
 Index

CHAPTERS PARTICULARS PAGE NUM.

Abstract 1

Acknowledgement 2

Index 3

Chapter 1 Conceptual Framework 5

1.1 Introduction to HR 5

1.2 Concept of stress 7

1.2.1 Introduction to stress 7

1.2.2 Stress in Biological terms 11

1.2.3 What is stress 12

1.2.4 Stress Management 14

1.2.5 Workplace stress 17

1.2.6 Coping with stress at workplace 26

1.2.7 Reduce your stress 30

Chapter 2 Method of study 36

2.1 Objective of study

36

2.2 Sampling
37

3
2.3 Scope of study
38

2.4 Analysis and interpretation of observable facts

39

2.5 Time consideration

57

2.6 Limitation of the study

58

2.7 Conclusion and suggestions

59

3 Bibliography
61

4 Annexure
63

4
1. Conceptual framework

(1.1) introduction to hr

Human Resource Management is an art of managing people at

work in such a manner that they give their best to the organization. In
simple word human resource management refers to the quantitative
aspects of employees working in an organization.

Human Resource Management is also a management function

concerned with hiring, motivating, and maintains people in an organization. It
focuses on people in organization.

Organizations are not mere bricks, mortar, machineries or inventories.

They are people. It is the one who staff and manage organizations.

HRM involves the application of management functions and principles.

The functions and principles are applied to acquisitioning, developing, maintain,
and remunerating employees in organizations.

Decisions relating to employees must be integrated. Decision on

different aspect of employees must be consistent with other human resource
decisions.

Decision made must influence the effectiveness of organization.

Effectiveness of an organization must result in betterment of services to
customers in the form of high-quality product supplied at reasonable costs.

5
 HRM function s is not confined to business establishment only. They
are applicable to non-business organizations, too such as education, health care,
recreation etc.

The scope of HRM is indeed vast. All major activities in the working life
of his or her entry into an organization until he or she leaves-come under the
previews of HRM.specifically, the activities included are HR planning, job
analysis and be sign, recruitment and selection, orientation and placement,
training and development, performance appraisal and job evaluation, employee
and executive remuneration, motivation and communication, welfare, safety and
health, industrial relations and the like.

HRM is a broad concept Personnel management and human resource

development is a part of HRM.

Before we define “Human Resource Management”, it seems good

to first define heterogeneous in the sense that they differ in personality,
perception, emotions, values, attitudes, motives, and modes of thoughts.

Human resource management plays an important role in the

development process of modern economy. In fact it is said that all the
development comes from the human mind.

“ Human Resource Management is a process of producing

development, maintaining and controlling human resources for effective
achievement of organization goals.”

6
(1.2) Concept of stress

(1.2.1) Introduction to stress

A lot of research has been conducted into stress over the last hundred
years. Some of the theories behind it are now settled and accepted; others are
still being researched and debated. During this time, there seems to have been
something approaching open warfare between competing theories and
definitions: Views have been passionately held and aggressively defended.

What complicates this is that intuitively we all feel that we know what
stress is, as it is something we have all experienced. A definition should therefore
be obvious…except that it is not.

Definition:

Hans Selye was one of the founding fathers of stress research. His
view in 1956 was that “stress is not necessarily something bad – it all depends
on how you take it. The stress of exhilarating, creative successful work is
beneficial, while that of failure, humiliation or infection is detrimental.” Selye
believed that the biochemical effects of stress would be experienced irrespective
of whether the situation was positive or negative.

Since then, a great deal of further research has been conducted, and
ideas have moved on. Stress is now viewed as a "bad thing", with a range of
harmful biochemical and long-term effects. These effects have rarely been
observed in positive situations.

The most commonly accepted definition of stress (mainly attributed to

Richard S Lazarus) is that stress is a condition or feeling experienced when
a person perceives that “demands exceed the personal and social

7
resources the individual is able to mobilize.” In short, it's what we feel when
we think we've lost control of events.

This is the main definition used by this section of Mind Tools, although
we also recognize that there is an intertwined instinctive stress response to
unexpected events. The stress response inside us is therefore part instinct and
part to do with the way we think.

Stress (physics), the average amount of force exerted per unit area.

Stress is a measure of the average amount of force exerted per unit area. It
is a measure of the intensity of the total internal forces acting within a body
across imaginary internal surfaces, as a reaction to external applied forces
and body forces. It was introduced into the theory of elasticity by Cauchy
around 1822. Stress is a concept that is based on the concept of continuum.
In general, stress is expressed as

Where

Is the average stress, also called engineering or nominal stress, and

Is the force acting over the area .

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is stress that lasts a long time or occurs frequently. Chronic
stress is potentially damaging.

Symptoms of chronic stress can be:

• upset stomach

8
 • headache
• backache
• insomnia
• anxiety
• depression
• anger

In the most severe cases it can lead to panic attacks or a panic disorder.

There are a variety of methods to control chronic stress, including exercise,

healthy diet, stress management, relaxation techniques, adequate rest, and
relaxing hobbies.

Ensuring a healthy diet containing magnesium may help control or eliminate

stress, in those individuals with lower levels of magnesium or those who have a
magnesium deficiency. Chronic stress can also lead to a magnesium deficiency,
which can be a factor in continued chronic stress, and a whole host of other
negative medical conditions caused by a magnesium deficiency.

It has been discovered that there is a huge upsurge in the number of people who
suffer from this condition. A very large number of these new cases suffer from
insomnia.

In a review of the scientific literature on the relationship between stress and

disease, the authors found that stress plays a role in triggering or worsening
depression and cardiovascular disease and in speeding the progression of
HIV/AIDS.

9
Compressive stress:

Compressive stress is the stress applied to materials resulting in their

compaction (decrease of volume). When a material is subjected to compressive
stress, then this material is under compression. Usually, compressive stress
applied to bars, columns, etc. leads to shortening.

Loading a structural element or a specimen will increase the compressive stress

until the reach of compressive strength. According to the properties of the
material, failure will occur as yield for materials with ductile behavior (most
metals, some soils and plastics) or as rupture for brittle behavior (geometries,
cast iron, glass, etc).

In long, slender structural elements -- such as columns or truss bars -- an

increase of compressive force F leads to structural failure due to buckling at
lower stress than the compressive strength.

Compressive stress has stress units (force per unit area), usually with negative
values to indicate the compaction. However in geotechnical engineering,
compressive stress is represented with positive values.

10
(1.2.2) Stress in Biological terms:

Stress is a biological term which refers to the consequences of the failure of a

human or animal body to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats
to the organism, whether actual or imagined. It includes a state of alarm and
adrenaline production, short-term resistance as a coping mechanism, and
exhaustion. It refers to the inability of a human or animal body to respond.
Common stress symptoms include irritability, muscular tension, inability to
concentrate and a variety of physical reactions, such as headaches and
accelerated heart rate.

The term "stress" was first used by the endocrinologist Hans Selye in the 1930s
to identify physiological responses in laboratory animals. He later broadened and
popularized the concept to include the perceptions and responses of humans
trying to adapt to the challenges of everyday life. In Selye's terminology, "stress"
refers to the reaction of the organism, and "stressor" to the perceived threat.
Stress in certain circumstances may be experienced positively. Eustress, for
example, can be an adaptive response prompting the activation of internal
resources to meet challenges and achieve goals.

The term is commonly used by laypersons in a metaphorical rather than literal or

biological sense, as a catch-all for any perceived difficulties in life. It also became
a euphemism, a way of referring to problems and eliciting sympathy without
being explicitly confessional, just "stressed out". It covers a huge range of
phenomena from mild irritation to the kind of severe problems that might result in
a real breakdown of health. In popular usage almost any event or situation
between these extremes could be described as stressful.

11
(1.2.3) what is Stress?

Stress refers to the strain from the conflict between our external environment and
us, leading to emotional and physical pressure. In our fast paced world, it is
impossible to live without stress, whether you are a student or a working adult.
There is both positive and negative stress, depending on each individual’s unique
perception of the tension between the two forces. Not all stress is bad. For
example, positive stress, also known as eustress, can help an individual to
function at optimal effectiveness and efficiency.

Hence, it is evident that some form of positive stress can add more color and
vibrancy to our lives. The presence of a deadline, for example, can push us to
make the most of our time and produce greater efficiency. It is important to keep
this in mind, as stress management refers to using stress to our advantage, and
not on eradicating the presence of stress in our lives.

On the other hand, negative stress can result in mental and physical strain. The
individual will experience symptoms such as tensions, headaches, irritability and
in extreme cases, heart palpitations. Hence, whilst some stress may be seen as
a motivating force, it is important to manage stress levels so that it does not have
an adverse impact on your health and relationships.

Part of managing your stress levels include learning about how stress can affect
you emotionally and physically, as well as how to identify if you are performing at
your optimal stress level (OSL) or if you are experiencing negative stress. This
knowledge will help you to identify when you need to take a break, or perhaps
seek professional help. It is also your first step towards developing techniques to
managing your stress levels.

Modern day stresses can take the form of monetary needs, or emotional frictions.
Competition at work and an increased workload can also cause greater levels of

12
stress. How do you identify if you are suffering from excessive stress?
Psychological symptoms commonly experienced include insomnia, headaches
and an inability to focus. Physical symptoms take the form of heart palpitations,
breathlessness, excessive sweating and stomachaches.

What causes stress? There are many different causes of stress, and that which
causes stress is also known as a stressor. Common lifestyle stressors include
performance, threat, and bereavement stressors, to name a few. Performance
stressors are triggered when an individual is placed in a situation where he feels
a need to excel. This could be during performance appraisals, lunch with the
boss, or giving a speech. Threat stressors are usually when the current situation
poses a dangerous threat, such as an economic downturn, or from an accident.
Lastly, bereavement stressors occur when there is a sense of loss such as the
death of a loved one, or a prized possession.

Thus, there are various stressors, and even more varied methods and
techniques of dealing with stress and turning it to our advantages. In order to do
so, we must learn to tell when we have crossed the line from positive to negative
stress.

13
(1.2.4) Stress Management

Stress management is the need of the hour. However hard we try to go beyond a
stress situation, life seems to find new ways of stressing us out and plaguing us
with anxiety attacks. Moreover, be it our anxiety, mind-body exhaustion or our
erring attitudes, we tend to overlook causes of stress and the conditions triggered
by those. In such unsettling moments we often forget that stressors, if not
escapable, are fairly manageable and treatable.

Stress, either quick or constant, can induce risky body-mind disorders.

Immediate disorders such as dizzy spells, anxiety attacks, tension,
sleeplessness, nervousness and muscle cramps can all result in chronic health
problems. They may also affect our immune, cardiovascular and nervous
systems and lead individuals to habitual addictions, which are inter-linked with
stress.

Like "stress reactions", "relaxation responses" and stress management

techniques are some of the body's important built-in response systems. As a
relaxation response the body tries to get back balance in its homeostasis. Some
hormones released during the 'fight or flight' situation prompt the body to replace
the lost carbohydrates and fats, and restore the energy level. The knotted
nerves, tightened muscles and an exhausted mind crave for looseness.
Unfortunately, today, we don't get relaxing and soothing situations without
asking. To be relaxed we have to strive to create such situations.

14
Recognizing a stressor:

It is important to recognize whether you are under stress or out of it. Many times,
even if we are under the influence of a stressful condition and our body reacts to
it internally as well as externally, we fail to realize that we are reacting under
stress. This also happens when the causes of stress are there long enough for
us to get habituated to them. The body constantly tries to tell us through
symptoms such as rapid palpitation, dizzy spells, tight muscles or various body
aches that something is wrong. It is important to remain attentive to such
symptoms and to learn to cope with the situations.

We cope better with stressful situation, when we encounter them voluntarily. In

cases of relocation, promotion or layoff, adventurous sports or having a baby, we
tend to respond positively under stress. But, when we are compelled into such
situations against our will or knowledge, more often than not, we wilt at the face
of unknown and imagined threats. For instance, stress may mount when one is
coerced into undertaking some work against one's will.

Laughter:

Adopting a humorous view towards life's situations can take the edge off
everyday stressors. Not being too serious or in a constant alert mode helps
maintain the equanimity of mind and promote clear thinking. Being able to laugh
stress away is the smartest way to ward off its effects.

A sense of humor also allows us to perceive and appreciate the incongruities of

life and provides moments of delight. The emotions we experience directly affect
our immune system. The positive emotions can create neurochemical changes
that buffer the immunosuppressive effects of stress.
During stress, the adrenal gland releases corticosteroids, which are converted to
cortical in the blood stream. These have an immunosuppressive effect. Dr. Lee

15
Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan at Loma Linda University School of
Medicine have produced carefully controlled studies showing that the experience
of laughter lowers serum cortical levels, increases the amount and activity of T
lymphocytes—the natural killer cells. Laughter also increases the number of T
cells that have suppresser receptors.

What Laughter Can Do Against Stress And Its Effects?

• Laughter lowers blood pressure and reduces hypertension.

• It provides good cardiac conditioning especially for those who are unable to
perform physical exercise.

• Reduces stress hormones (studies shows, laughter induces reduction of at

least four of neuroendocrine hormones—epinephrine, cortical, dopac, and growth
hormone, associated with stress response).

• Laughter cleanses the lungs and body tissues of accumulated stale air as it
empties more air than it takes in. It is beneficial for patients suffering from
emphysema and other respiratory ailments.

• It increases muscle flexion, relaxation and fluent blood circulation in body.

• Boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-

fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon and disease-destroying antibodies
called B-cells.

• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins—body's natural painkillers.

• Produces a general sense of well-being.

16
(1.2.5) Workplace Stress

DEFINING STRESS AT WORK

Change in working practices, such as the introduction of new technology or the

alternation of new technology or the alternative of targets, my cause stress, or
stress may be built into an organizations’ structure. Organizational stress can be
measured by absenteeism and quality or work.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRESS:-
Stress affects as well as the individual within them. An organization with a high
level of absenteeism, rapid staff turnover, deteriorating industrial and customer
relations, a worsening safety record, or poor quality control is suffering from
organizational stress.

FOLLOWING THE PAT OF STRESS THROUGH IN

ORGANIZATION:-

The below chart shows one example of the structure of a department in an

organization, indicating typical causes of stress that may effect stress at certain
levels in the structure, and particular.

Causes that are affecting individuals. Stress is contagious; anyone who is not
performing well due to increases the amount of pressure on their colleagues,
superiors, and subordinates.

The cause may range from unclear or overlapping job descriptions, to lack of
communication, to poor working conditions, including “sick building syndrome”.

17
18
POTENTIAL SOURCES OF STRESS:

There are three categories of potential stressors:

 Environmental factor
 Organization factor
 Individual factors

Environmental factors:
Just as environmental uncertainty influences the design of an organization.
Changes in business cycle create economic uncertainties.

Political uncertainties:
If the political system in a country is implemented in an orderly manner, there
would not be any type of stress.

Technological uncertainties:
New innovations can make an employee’s skills and experiences obsolete in a
very short period of time. Technological uncertainty therefore is a third type of
environmental factor that can cause stress. Computers, robotics, automation and
other forms of technological innovations are threat to many people and cause
them stress.

19
Organization factors:

There are no storages of factors within the organization that can cause stress;
pressures to avoid error or complete tasks in a limited time period, work overload
are few examples. Task demands are factors related to a person’s job. They
include the design of the individual’s job working conditions, and the physical
work layout.

Role demands relate to pressures placed on a person as a function of the

particular role he or she plays in the organization. Role overhead is experienced
when the employees is expected to do more than time permits.

Role ambiguity is created when role expectations are not clearly understood and
employee is not sure what he / she is to do.

Interpersonal demands are pressures created by other employees. Lack of social

support from colleagues and poor. Interpersonal relationships can cause
considerable stress, especially among employed with a high social need.

Organizational structure defines the level of differentiation in the organization, the

degree of rules and regulations, and where decisions are made. Excessive rules
and lack of participation in decision that affect an employee are examples of
structural variables that might be potential sources of stress.

20
Potential sources Consequences

Organizational leadership represents the managerial style of the organizations

senior executive. Some executive officers create a culture characterized by
tension, fear, and anxiety. They establish unrealistic pressures to perform in the
short-run impose excessively tight controls and routinely fire employees who
don’t measure up. This creates a fear in their hearts, which lead to stress.

Organizations go through a cycle. They are established; they grow, become

mature, and eventually decline. An organization’s life stage - i.e.
Where it is in four stage cycle-creates different problems and pressures for
employees. The establishment and decline stage are particularly stressful.

21
Individual factors:

The typical individual only works about 40 hrs a week. The experience and
problems that people encounter in those other 128 non-work hrs each week can
spell over to the job.

Family problems:

National surveys consistently show that people hold family and discipline,
troubles with children are examples of relationship problems that create stress for
employee and that aren’t at the front door when they arrive at work.

Economic problems:

Economic problems created by individuals overextending their financial

resources are another set of personal troubles that can create stress for
employees and distract their attention from their work.

22
23
Consequences of stress

The effect of stress is closely linked to individual personality. The same

level of stress affects different people in different ways & each person has
different ways of coping. Recognizing these personality types means that more
focused help can be given.
Stress shows itself number of ways. For instance, individual who is
experiencing high level of stress may develop high blood pressure, ulcers,
irritability, difficulty in making routine decisions, loss of appetite, accident
proneness, and the like. These can be subsumed under three categories:
 Individual consequences
 Organizational consequence
 Burnout

Individual consequences:

Individual consequences of stress are those, which affect the individual directly.
Due to this the organization may suffer directly or indirectly, but it is the individual
who has to pays for it. Individual consequences of stress are broadly divided into
behavioral, psychological and medical.

 Behavioral consequences of stress are responses that may harm the

person under stress or others. Behaviorally related stress symptoms
include changes in productivity, turnover, as well as changes in eating
habits, increased smoking or consumption of alcohol, paid speech, and
sleep disorders.

 Psychological consequences of stress replace to an individual mental

health and well-being from or felling depressed. Job related stress could
cause dissatisfaction, infact it has most psychological effect on the
individual and lead to tension, anxiety irritability, and boredom.

24
  Medical consequences of stress affect a person’s well being. According to
a research conducted, it revealed that stress could create changes in
metabolism, increase heart and breathing rates, increases blood pressure
bring out headaches and induce heart attacks.

Organizational consequences:

Organizational consequences of stress have direct affect on the organizations.

These include decline in performance, withdrawal and negative changes in
attitude.

 Decline in performance can translate into poor quality work or a drop in

productivity. Promotions and other organizational benefits get affected due
to this.

 Withdrawal behavior also can result from stress. Significant form of

withdrawal behavior is absenteeism.

 One main affect of employee stress is directly related to attitudes. Job

satisfaction, morale and organizational commitment can all suffer, along
with motivation to perform at higher levels.

Burnout:-
A final consequence of stress has implementation for both people and
organizations. Burnout is a general feeling of exhaustion that develops when an
individual simultaneously experiences too much pressure and few sources of
satisfaction.

25
(1.2.6) Coping with Stress at Work place

With the rapid advancement of technology, the stresses faced at work have also
increased. Many people dread going to work, hence the term “Monday Blues”.
What is the reason for this? There is partly the fear from being retrenched in bad
times, leading to greater job insecurity on the part of those who remain.
Undoubtedly, occupational stress is one of the most commonly cited stressors
faced by people all over the world.

Stress refers to the pressure and reactions to our environment which results in
psychological and physical reactions. Whilst some stress is good for motivation
and increasing efficiency, too much stress can result in negative impacts such as
reduced effectiveness and efficiency. More and more people are feeling isolated
and disrespected at work, and this has led to greater occupational stress. Many
companies have taken to consulting experts and professionals on ways to
increase connectedness and motivation of their employees.

Some companies organize parties and make their employees feel valued at
work. These are measures to motivate employees and help them to feel secure
at their jobs, translating into greater productivity. However, not all companies
have such measures in place, and some have not gotten it quite right. Hence, it
is up to you to make sure that you can cope with stress at your workplace, and
use it to help you work better. Here are 3 simple steps to help you with coping
with stress in the workplace.

Step1: Raising Awareness

Help yourself to identify when you are facing rising levels of stress, tipping the
scales from positive to negative. This is important, as being able to identify signs
of being stressed can help you to take steps to ensure that your overall quality of

26
life does not drop. If left unacknowledged, the problem will only snowball, leading
to disastrous consequences to your health and overall wellbeing.

You can identify if you are feeling stressed by checking if you have any physical
or psychological reactions, such as excessive sweating or heart palpitations, or
the onset of headaches, irritability or the need to escape. If you experience any
of these reactions, identify if you are feeling any overwhelming negative
emotions, and if you are constantly worried.

Step 2: Identify the Cause

You need to be able to analyze the situation and identify what is causing the rise
in stress. These stressors can be external and internal. External stressors refer
to things beyond your control, such as the environment or your colleagues at
work. Internal stressors refer to your own thinking and attitude. Often, we only
start reacting to stress when a combination of stressors working together
exceeds our ability to cope.

Keep a diary or a list of events that have caused you to feel strong negative
emotions, or that are likely stressors. This will help you to identify the causes of
your stress. Whilst it is not always possible to eradicate them, we can change the
way that we cope with it.

Step 3: Coping with Stress

In order to deal with the situation that is causing you stress, you need to calm
your mind and body so as to stave off the reactions and cope with it in a positive
way. This can be through different methods, such as taking time off. If a situation
is triggering your stress and you are unable to calm down, remove yourself from

27
it. Go outside and take a walk to calm down. Alternatively, you can try
implementing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing. If it is an internal
stressor, stop your thought process until you are able to deal with it logically.

The key to making these 3 steps work for you is to practice them. These are not
instantaneous solutions, and you need to condition your mind and practice them
so that you can implement it when you are feeling stressed.

Prevention
A combination of organizational change and stress management is often the
most useful approach for preventing stress at work.

How to Change the Organization to Prevent Job Stress

• Ensure that the workload is in line with workers' capabilities and

resources.

• Design jobs to provide meaning, stimulation, and opportunities for workers

to use their skills.

• Clearly define workers' roles and responsibilities.

• Give workers opportunities to participate in decisions and actions affecting

their jobs.

• Improve communications-reduce uncertainty about career development

and future employment prospects.

• Provide opportunities for social interaction among workers.

28
 • Establish work schedules that are compatible with demands and

responsibilities outside the job.

• Discrimination inside the workplace. (e.g. nationality and language )

Stress Management Training Program

• Controlling information overload

• The tool for staying calm and in focus despite uncertainty
• Mastering the choice and change challenge
• Reduced stress through improved organization
• Saving time and reducing stress with improved listening
• How to reduce stress in others
• How to create important time just for you
• More stability & happiness from areas you can control
• Avoiding the "As Soon As Trap"

29
(1.2.7) Reduce your stress

1. Job analysis: - We have all experienced that appalling sense of having far too
much work to do and too little time to do it in. We can choose to ignore this, and
work unreasonably long hours to stay on top of our workload. The risks here are
that we become exhausted, that we have so much to do that we do a poor quality
job and that we neglect other areas of our life. Each of these can lead to intense
stress.
The alternative is to work more intelligently, by focusing on the things that are
important for job success and reducing the time we spend on low priority tasks.
Job Analysis is the first step in doing this.

The first of the action-oriented skills that we look at is Job Analysis. Job Analysis
is a key technique for managing job overload – an important source of stress.
To do an excellent job, you need to fully understand what is expected of you.
While this may seem obvious, in the hurly-burly of a new, fast-moving, high-
pressure role, it is oftentimes something that is easy to overlook.
By understanding the priorities in your job, and what constitutes success within it,
you can focus on these activities and minimize work on other tasks as much as
possible. This helps you get the greatest return from the work you do, and keep
your workload under control.
Job Analysis is a useful technique for getting a firm grip on what really is
important in your job so that you are able to perform excellently. It helps you to
cut through clutter and distraction to get to the heart of what you need to do.

30
2. Rational & positive thinking: -

You are thinking negatively when you fear the future, put yourself down, criticize
yourself for errors, doubt your abilities, or expect failure. Negative thinking
damages confidence, harms performance and paralyzes mental skills.
Unfortunately, negative thoughts tend to flit into our consciousness, do their
damage and flit back out again, with their significance having barely been
noticed. Since we barely realize that they were there, we do not challenge them
properly, which means that they can be completely incorrect and wrong.
Thought Awareness is the process by which you observe your thoughts and
become aware of what is going through your head.
One approach to it is to observe your "stream of consciousness" as you think
about the thing you're trying to achieve which is stressful. Do not suppress any
thoughts. Instead, just let them run their course while you watch them, and write
them down on our free worksheet as they occur. Then let them go.

Another more general approach to Thought Awareness comes with logging

stress in your Stress Diary. When you analyze your diary at the end of the period,
you should be able to see the most common and the most damaging thoughts.
Tackle these as a priority using the techniques below.
Here are some typical negative thoughts you might experience when preparing to
give a major presentation:

• Fear about the quality of your performance or of problems that may

interfere with it;

• Worry about how the audience (especially important people in it like your
boss) or the press may react to you;

• Dwelling on the negative consequences of a poor performance; or

• Self-criticism over a less-than-perfect rehearsal.

31
Thought awareness is the first step in the process of managing negative
thoughts, as you cannot manage thoughts that you are unaware of.

Rational Thinking

The next step in dealing with negative thinking is to challenge the negative
thoughts that you identified using the Thought Awareness technique. Look at
every thought you wrote down and challenge it rationally. Ask yourself whether
the thought is reasonable. What evidence is there for and against the thought?
Would your colleagues and mentors agree or disagree with it?
Looking at the examples, the following challenges could be made to the negative
thoughts we identified earlier:

• Feelings of inadequacy: Have you trained yourself as well as you

reasonably should have? Do you have the experience and resources you
need to make the presentation? Have you planned, prepared and
rehearsed enough? If you have done all of these, you've done as much as
you can to give a good performance.

• Worries about performance during rehearsal: If some of your practice

was less than perfect, then remind yourself that the purpose of the
practice is to identify areas for improvement, so that these can be sorted
out before the performance.

• Problems with issues outside your control: Have you identified the
risks of these things happening, and have you taken steps to reduce the
likelihood of them happening or their impact if they do? What will you do if
they occur? And what do you need others to do for you?

• Worry about other people's reactions: If you have prepared well, and
you do the best you can, then you should be satisfied. If you perform as
well as you reasonably can, then fair people are likely to respond well. If

32
 people are not fair, the best thing to do is ignore their comments and rise
above them.

Tip:
Don't make the mistake of generalizing a single incident. OK, you made a
mistake at work, but that doesn't mean you're bad at your job.

Similarly, make sure you take the long view about incidents that you're finding
stressful. Just because you're finding these new responsibilities stressful now,
doesn't mean that they will ALWAYS be so for you in the future.

Tip:
If you find it difficult to look at your negative thoughts objectively, imagine that
you are your best friend or a respected coach or mentor. Look at the list of
negative thoughts and imagine the negative thoughts were written by someone
you were giving objective advice to. Then, think how you would challenge these
thoughts.

When you challenge negative thoughts rationally, you should be able to see
quickly whether the thoughts are wrong or whether they have some substance to
them. Where there is some substance, take appropriate action. However, make
sure that your negative thoughts are genuinely important to achieving your goals,
and don't just reflect a lack of experience, which everyone has to go through at
some stage.

33
Positive Thinking & Opportunity Seeking

By now, you should already be feeling more positive. The final step is to prepare
rational, positive thoughts and affirmations to counter any remaining negativity. It
can also be useful to look at the situation and see if there are any useful
opportunities that are offered by it.
By basing your affirmations on the clear, rational assessments of facts that you
made using Rational Thinking, you can use them to undo the damage that
negative thinking may have done to your self-confidence.

Tip:
Your affirmations will be strongest if they are specific, are expressed in the
present tense and have strong emotional content.

Continuing the examples above, positive affirmations might be:

• Problems during practice: "I have learned from my rehearsals. This has
put me in a position where I can deliver a great performance. I am going to
perform well and enjoy the event."

• Worries about performance: "I have prepared well and rehearsed

thoroughly. I am well positioned to give an excellent performance."

• Problems issues outside your control: "I have thought through

everything that might reasonably happen and have planned how I can

34
 handle all likely contingencies. I am very well placed to react flexibly to
events."

• Worry about other people's reaction: "Fair people will react well to a
good performance. I will rise above any unfair criticism in a mature and
professional way."

If appropriate, write these affirmations down on your worksheet so that you can
use them when you need them.
As well as allowing you to structure useful affirmations, part of Positive Thinking
is to look at opportunities that the situation might offer to you. In the examples
above, successfully overcoming the situations causing the original negative
thinking will open up opportunities. You will acquire new skills, you will be seen
as someone who can handle difficult challenges, and you may open up new
career opportunities.
Make sure that identifying these opportunities and focusing on them is part of
your positive thinking.

35
2. Method of study

(2.1) Objective of study: -

 Recognize stress and its symptoms

 Diagnose personal and organizational stress

 Identify specific problems and apply treatment

 To gain practical techniques that can be readily applied

 Identify employees personal and work related stress

 Reduce negative stress and its effect

Stress is a dynamic condition in witch an individual is confronted with an

opportunity, demand or resource related to what the individual desires and for
which the outcome is perceived to be both uncertain and important. This is a
complicated definition.

This research is to carry out the study that how much stressed the employees of
the banks are and how do their stress affect their work life, social life, output etc.
so a sample of 35 employees are selected from all the three banks for the
research of stress among them.

36
(2.2) Sampling

Sample: I have taken the sample of 35 employees from three different banks of
Raipur . All the employees were of the same designations.

Reason: As we find the employees of the bank to be more stressful as more and
more employees are taking VRS and are dismissed because of inflation. I have
selected only those three banks which are affiliated to the public and are
specialized in consumer needs fulfillment.

It is incumbent on the researcher to clearly define the target population. There

are no strict rules to follow, and the researcher must rely on logic and judgment.
The population is defined in keeping with the objectives of the study.

Sometimes, the entire population will be sufficiently small, and the researcher
can include the entire population in the study. This type of research is called a
census study because data is gathered on every member of the population.

Usually, the population is too large for the researcher to attempt to survey all of
its members. A small, but carefully chosen sample can be used to represent the
population. The sample reflects the characteristics of the population from which it
is drawn.

37
(2.3) Scope of study

 Discover opportunities for improvement.

 Improve morale and reduce turnover.

 Enhance productivity/efficiency.

 Use tool for positive change.

 Value employee's opinions.

 Utilize employee's recommendations and solutions.

 Measure the effectiveness of the organization's programs.

 Strengthen supervision.

 Assess training needs.

 Curb absenteeism.

 Identify other areas for improvement.

 Increase credibility of management.

38
(2.4) Analysis & interpretation of observable facts

1. Are you satisfied with the performance you give at your work?
Yes No No response
27 8 0

Yes
No
No response

From the diagram it is clear that 77 % of the employees are satisfied with the
performance they give in the work while 23 % of the employees are not satisfied.

2. Do you think that you are suffering from depression?

39
 Yes No No response
7 28 0

Yes
No
No response

20 % of the employee feel that they are suffering from depression while 80 % of
the employee feel that that they are free from the depression

3. Do you worry about your colleague's opinion about you?

40
 Yes No No response
9 26 0

Yes
No
No response

26% of the employees worry about their colleague’s opinion about them while
74% of the employees are not concern with the opinion about their colleague.

4. Do you discuss your problem with your spouse or friend or any other
close to you?

Yes No No response
32 3 0

41
 Yes
No
No response

91% of the employees of the bank discuss their problem and share their feelings
with their spouse or friends or others while 9 % of the employee is not concerned
with it.

5. Do you work more than 8 hours?

42
 Yes No No response 89% of the employees work for
31 4 0

Yes
No
No response

more than 8
hours which is the starting point of the stress while 11 % of the employees don’t
work for more than 8 hours.

43
6. You have an important function at your home and your boss asks to give
a 4 hour over time, what will be your response?

Yes No No response
14 19 2

Yes
No
No response

40 % of the employees are proved to be work dedicated and they are ready to
miss the important function at their house while 54 % of the employees said no
and 6 % of the employee did not gave any answer.

44
7. Do you regularly spend time for entertainment?

Yes No No response
20 15 0

Yes
No
No response

57% of the employee spent regular time on entertainment which helps us to

remain stress free while 43 % of the employees don’t do that.

45
8. Is your social life balanced?

Yes No No response
19 14 2

54 %
Yes
of the No
No response

employees find their social life to be balanced while 40 % of the employees don’t
have their social life balanced. 6% of the employees remain silent.

46
9. Do you plan your work before doing?

Yes No No response
31 4 0

Yes No No response
22 13 0
Yes
No
No response
It

is a good habit to plan the work you do. 89 % of the employees plan their work
before doing while 11 % of the employees don’t plan their work.

10. Do you fear about the quality of your performance?

47
 Yes
No
No response

63% of the employees fear the quality of performance which they give while 37 %
of the employees don’t fear the quality of their work.

11. Are you a heart patient?

48
 Yes
No
No response

Yes No No response
1 34 0

Here 3 % of the employees are heart patient which is partially the result of stress.

12. Do you get tensed at your non achievement of your target?

Yes No No response
25 10 0

49
 Yes
No
No response

71% of the employees get tensed at the non achievement of the target while 29
% of the employees work casually.

13. Do you feeling stress some times?

Yes No No response
28 6 1

50
 Yes
No
No response

80% of the employees feel stressed sometimes while 17 % of the employees are
not feeling stressed. 3 % of the employees did not respond.

If the answer of the above question is ‘Yes’ then answer the following:
a) Is the reason of your stress your work load?

Yes No No response
20 9 6

51
 Yes
No
No response
Yes No No response
14 14 7

57% of the employees find themselves to be stressed by their work over load. 26
% of the employees are not stressed because of the work overload. 17 % of the
employees did not answer.

b) Are you stressed because of your family problems?

52
 Yes
No
No response

Yes No No response
10 18 7

40 % of the employees are stressed because of their family problems 40% by

other problems while 20% of the employees did not responded.

c) Do you get stressed when your boss scolds you?

Yes
No
No response
53
20% of the employee did not responded when they were asked weather their get
stressed because of the scolding of their boss. 51% of the employees don’t get
stress because of the scolding of their boss. 29 % of the employees get stressed
because of the scolding of their boss.

d) Do you try to find any solution for the problem of your stress?

Yes No No response
24 6 5

54
 Yes
No
No response

69 % of the employees try to find the solution of their stress.

e) (IF YES) Do you practice yoga or any other ayurvedic therapy for
reducing stress?

Yes No No response
11 18 6

55
 Yes
No
No response

31% of the employees try the yoga and other ayurvedic techniques to reduce
their stress while 51 % of the employees use other techniques to reduce
stress.

(2.5) Time Considerations

Many researchers underestimate the time required to complete a research

project. The following form may be used as an initial checklist in developing time
estimates. The best advice is to be generous with your time estimates. Things
almost always take longer than we think they should.

56
This checklist contains two time estimates for each task. The first one (Hours) is
your best estimate of the actual number of hours required to complete the task.
The second one (Duration) is the amount of time that will pass until the task is
completed. Sometimes these are the same and sometimes they are different.
Most researchers and business-people have to divide their time among many
projects. They simply cannot give all their time to any one project. For example,
my estimate of goal clarification may be four hours, but other commitments allow
me to spend only two hours a day on this study. My "hours" estimate is four
hours, and my "duration" estimate is two days.

To arrive at your final time estimates, add the individual estimates. The hours
estimate is used for budget planning and the duration estimate is used to develop
a project time line.

(2.6) Limitation of the study

 The

questionnaires were filled be 35 employees working in the three major Banks of

57
Raipur i.e. Axis Bank, U CO. Bank and SBI. So the scope of sample findings

was less.

 The

questionnaire was filled by 35 employees of different designations. So the point

of view of employees differs as per their designations.

 The

employees from whom the questionnaires are filled are in a heavy workload so

some of the questionnaires filled by the employees who are in stress cannot be

called reasonable.

 The

responses of the employees cannot be accurate as the problem of language

and understanding arises. (These problems are not in all cases.)

 One of the

other problems of questionnaire is the cost. Some times it may be possible that

even by spending so much the result may not be reasonable.

 Many a

times the employees may not be really conscious or may not be bothered about

the questionnaire. This may create a problem in the research.

58
(2.7) conclusion and suggestions

In the questionnaire one of the question was “You have an important

function at your home and your boss asks to give a 4 hour over time what will be
your response ‘Yes or No’?” the employees have given their opinion as per their
mood.

While considering the point of view of entertainment it depends upon

the mood of the employees. The entertainment is considered one of the most
ultimate solutions to reduce stress. Most of the employees do not spend regular
time in entertainment. This may be because they may not be getting time for
entertainment or they may not be interested in the same.

One of the questions was asked that were their social life balanced?
It is observed that the employees who have scored above 20 marks in the
burnout test did not have their social life balanced. Thus we can conclude that
the employees who are above 20 don’t have their social life balanced. Thus it is
proved that stress may affect our social life also.

The employees were asked weather they plan their work or not,
moderate answers were given. The employees scoring more than 25 marks were
not found their work planned. Thus the employees who plan their work have
scored below 25 marks in the burnout test except some cases as there are
always some drawbacks in making plan. Failure of a plan may also lead a person

59
to stress. Thus we can conclude that planning of the work may help to reduce
stress level.

Most of the employees who have scored more than 20 marks fear
about their quality of work they give. This aspect is not dependent of the burnout
level. This aspect depends upon the dedication of work. So it is meaningless to
compare this question with the burnout test.

A question was asked that weather you get stressed at the non-
achievement of their target? All the employees have responded positively. But
this is not concern with the burnout score. From this we can conclude that all the
employees are given achievable target and naturally by the non-achievement of
the target all the employees may get stressed. One of the other possibilities is
that the employees have responded positively to show themselves to be good.

60
3. Bibliography

o www.mindtool.com

o Organizational Behavior “Stephen P. Robbins”

o Self analysis of questionnaire

4. Annexure

Questionnaire

61
N Questions Yes No

1 Are you satisfied with the performance you give at your work?
2 Do you think that you are suffering from depression?
3 Do you worry about your colleague's opinion about you?
4 Do you discuss your problem with your spouse or friend or
any other close to you?
5
Do you work more than 8 hours?
6 You have an important function at your home and your boss
asks to give a 4 hour over time, what will be your response?
7
Do you regularly spend time for entertainment?
8
Is your social life balanced?
9 Do you plan your work before doing?
10
Do you fear about the quality of your performance?
11
Are you a heart patient?
12 Do you get tensed at your non achievement of your target?
13
Do you feeling stress some times?
If the answer of the above question is Yes then answer the
following:
a)
Is the reason of your stress your work load?
b) Are you stressed because of your family problems?
c) Do you get stressed when your boss scolds You?
d) Do you try to find any solution for the problem of your stress?
e) (IF YES) Do you practice yoga or any other ayurvedic therapy
for reducing stress?

To make the survey report more clear the above questionnaire was also
filled. As a result the employees have given proper response and the
report of the questionnaire is presented in the project.

62