Unclear Goals: The Main Reason Why People Are Stressed at Work

We spend a lot of our time at work, so it's no surprise that many of the main reasons for stress come from the workplace. The latest study by job search platform Comparably found that 65% of employees reported that workplace stress has been a problem for them.

When asked about the biggest reason for the stress, 41% of respondents said "unclear goals" as the top reason for stress. Commute and bad management were tied for second place while difficult co-workers were third, and then long working hours came in last.

One out of three female respondents and almost half of the male reported that unclear work goals created more stress than anything else they dealt with at the office. More than half of the female and half of the male reported feeling burnt out at work.

The research suggests that the type of stress you experience depends on the type of job you do. However, executives, admins and customer service representatives all put unclear goals as their primary stressor.

57% of workers with secondary education reported feeling burnout, while 53% of workers with a college education and 55% with a master’s degree said the same.

The employees that feel the most burnout, at 59%, are those in entry-level positions. In groups that had one to three years and then six to 10 years under their belts, 56% reported feeling burnout. And then 54% of workers with three to six years on the job and then over 10 years said they felt burnout.

People in the 26-30 and 41-45 age ranges rated work-life balance as the most important workplace benefit. Those in the 18-25 and 31-35 groups chose it second-most often. And for people aged 36-40, work-life balance was tied for first place.

As far as how that stress manifests itself, 45% said that they were afraid of stagnation in their careers, followed by having a breakdown caused by stress at 23% and then being overlooked for a promotion at 19%, rounding out the top three.

What can you do to help reduce stress at work for your employees?

Regularly check-is and review with your employees so you can help them articulate and execute on their personal goals. On your end, you will give them insight into the road ahead for the business so you can work together to accomplish goals.

Need to Fill in Many Vacancies, Fast? We'll solve your hiring in just 2 days. Contact us at [email protected] or call 03 2242 4822 for a free consultation.

Source: Entrepreneur

Related articles

8 Ways to Manage Your Time at the Office

What to do if Your Employees are Working Late

How Jerks Ruin the Workplace and Business too