Preface

The study of human resource management is one of the major criteria in the
corporate sector. Human resource is the heart of the organization. By this research project
we will be able to know to reduce the stress level of the employees working in the bank.
By this way the productivity of the employee increases.
Now a day the corporate sector is booming in a high speed that the people have to
work for prolonged hours to maintain the standard of living and achieve their basic needs.
So is the condition in the hospitals, colleges, BPOs and lots of other places. In spit of
having the modern technologies and facilities, people are feeling themselves to be work
loaded and stressed. Stress arises because of many reasons which are discussed in the
following project. The project report also contain techniques how to reduce the stress and
overcome such problems.
To identify the level of stress among the people who work I have tried to survey
the people working in hospitals, BPOs and other industries as well as institutes. Stress
arises because of unfulfilled wants, lack of job satisfaction etc. before starting the topic of
stress; lets first understand the importance of human resource.

Executive Summary
TITLE OF THE PROJECT: Study of Stress Management among Bank Employees
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. By
looking at the starting of the project you will find:
o Introduction to Human resource
o Introduction and Definition of stress
o Stress in biological terms
o What is stress?
o Coping with stress at work place.
o Stress management
o Workplace stress
o Reducing of stress.
After the theoretical part I have included the research part. My research work
includes two questionnaires.
o Burn out test
o Stress analysis Questionnaire
My research includes the research methodology which contains the information as
follows:
o Research objectives
o Sampling (types and methods of sampling)
o Research instrument
o Data analysis and interpretation
o Employees opinion to reduce stress.
o Research flowchart
o Limitation of survey
o Advantages and disadvantages of written questionnaire

o Finding

INDEX
No
1
1.1
1.2
1.2.1
1.2.2
1.2.3
1.2.4
1.2.5
1.2.6
1.2.7
2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.8.1
2.8.2
2.9
3
4

Content
Conceptual Framework
Introduction to HR
Concept of stress
Introduction to stress
Stress in Biological terms
What is stress
Coping with stress at workplace
Stress Management
Workplace stress
Reduce your stress
Research Methodology
Research objective
Sampling
Research instrument
Data analysis and interpretation
Employees opinion about how to reduce stress
Research flowchart
Time consideration
Limitation of the survey
Advantages of Written Questionnaires
Disadvantages of Written Questionnaires
Findings
Bibliography
Annexure

Page no
1
1
3
3
8
9
11
15
18
22
27
27
29
32
36
48
50
51
52
52
53
55
58
59

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 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
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
maintaining

Resource
and

Management

controlling

is

human

process

resources

of

for

producing
effective

development,

achievement

of

organization goals.

(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 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.
The types of stress are as follows

Mechanical

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

Yield stress, the stress at which a material begins to deform plastically.

Compressive stress, the stress applied to materials resulting in their compaction.

Biological

Stress (biological), physiological or psychological stress; some types include:

o

Chronic stress, persistent stress which can lead to illness and mental
disorder

Eustress, positive stress that can lead to improved long-term functioning

Workplace stress, stress caused by employment

Music

Accent (music).

Stress (band), an early '80s melodic rock band from San Diego.

Stress (punk band), an early '80s punk rock band from Athens.

Stress (Neo-Psychedelic band), from the late 1980's.

Stress, a song by the French band Justice on their debut album

Other

Stress (game), card game

Stress (linguistics), phonological use of prominence in language

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

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.
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.

(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.

(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 individuals unique perception of the tension

10

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 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
11

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.
Good stress v/s Bad stress:
Stress has often been misunderstood to be negative, with few people
acknowledging the importance and usefulness of positive stress. In our everyday lives,
stress is everywhere and definitely unavoidable; hence our emphasis should be on
differentiating between what is good stress, and what is bad. This will help us to learn to
cope with negative stress, and harness the power of positive stress to help us achieve
more.
There are 4 main categories of stress, namely eustress, distress, hyper stress and
hypo stress. Negative stress can cause many physical and psychological problems, whilst
positive stress can be very helpful for us. Heres how we differentiate between them.
Eustress:
This is a positive form of stress, which prepares your mind and body for the
imminent challenges that it has perceived. Eustress is a natural physical reaction by your
body which increases blood flow to your muscles, resulting in a higher heart rate.
Athletes before a competition or perhaps a manager before a major presentation would do
well with eustress, allowing them to derive the inspiration and strength that is needed.
Distress
We are familiar with this word, and know that it is a negative form of stress. This
occurs when the mind and body is unable to cope with changes, and usually occurs when
there are deviations from the norm. They can be categorized into acute stress and chronic
stress. Acute stress is intense, but does not last for long. On the other hand, chronic stress

12

persists over a long period of time. Trigger events for distress can be a change in job
scope or routine that the person is unable to handle or cope with.
Hyper stress
This is another form of negative stress that occurs when the individual is unable to
cope with the workload. Examples include highly stressful jobs, which require longer
working hours than the individual can handle. If you suspect that you are suffering from
hyper stress, you are likely to have sudden emotional breakdowns over insignificant
issues, the proverbial straws that broke the camels back. It is important for you to
recognize that your body needs a break, or you may end up with severe and chronic
physical and psychological reactions.
Hypo stress
Lastly, hypo stress occurs when a person has nothing to do with his time and feels
constantly bored and unmotivated. This is due to an insufficient amount of stress; hence
some stress is inevitable and helpful to us. Companies should avoid having workers who
experience hypo stress as this will cause productivity and mindfulness to fall. If the job
scope is boring and repetitive, it would be a good idea to implement some form of job
rotation so that there is always something new to learn.
The types of stress are named as eustress and distress. Distress is the most
commonly-referred to type of stress, having negative implications, whereas eustress is a
positive form of stress, usually related to desirable events in person's life. Both can be
equally taxing on the body, and are cumulative in nature, depending on a person's way of
adapting to a change that has caused it.

(1.2.4) 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

13

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.
Step 1: 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 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
14

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 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.

(1.2.5) 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.

15

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.

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 ones will

16

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 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 lymphocytesthe 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 hormonesepinephrine, cortical, dopac, and growth hormone, associated
with stress response).

17

 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

endorphinsbody's

natural

painkillers.

Produces a general sense of well-being.

(1.2.6) Workplace Stress

Workplace stress is the harmful physical and emotional response that occurs
when there is a poor match between job demands and the capabilities, resources, or needs
of the worker. Stress-related disorders encompass a broad array of conditions, including
psychological disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder) and
other types of emotional strain (e.g., dissatisfaction, fatigue, tension, etc.), maladaptive
behaviors (e.g., aggression, substance abuse), and cognitive impairment (e.g.,
concentration and memory problems). In turn, these conditions may lead to poor work
performance or even injury. Job stress is also associated with various biological reactions
that may lead ultimately to compromised health, such as cardiovascular disease.
Stress is a prevalent and costly problem in today's workplace. About one-third of
workers report high levels of stress. One-quarter of employees view their jobs as the
number one stressor in their lives. Three-quarters of employees believe the worker has
more on-the-job stress than a generation ago. Evidence also suggests that stress is the
major cause of turnover in organizations.
Health and Healthcare Utilization
Problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than are
any other life stressor-more so than even financial problems or family problems. Many

18

studies suggest that psychologically demanding jobs that allow employees little control
over the work process increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. On the basis of research
by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and many other
organizations, it is widely believed that job stress increases the risk for development of
back and upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders. High levels of stress are associated
with substantial increases in health service utilization. Workers who report experiencing
stress at work also show excessive health care utilization. In a 1998 study of 46,000
workers, health care costs were nearly 50% greater for workers reporting high levels of
stress in comparison to low risk workers. The increment rose to nearly 150%, an
increase of more than $1,700 per person annually, for workers reporting high levels of
both stress and depression. Additionally, periods of disability due to job stress tend to be
much longer than disability periods for other occupational injuries and illnesses.
Causes of Workplace Stress
Job stress results from the interaction of the worker and the conditions of work.
Views differ on the importance of worker characteristics versus working conditions as the
primary cause of job stress. The differing viewpoints suggest different ways to prevent
stress at work. According to one school of thought, differences in individual
characteristics such as personality and coping skills are most important in predicting
whether certain job conditions will result in stress-in other words, what is stressful for
one person may not be a problem for someone else. This viewpoint leads to prevention
strategies that focus on workers and ways to help them cope with demanding job
conditions. Although the importance of individual differences cannot be ignored,
scientific evidence suggests that certain working conditions are stressful to most people.
Such evidence argues for a greater emphasis on working conditions as the key source of
job stress, and for job redesign as a primary prevention strategy. Personal interview
surveys of working conditions, including conditions recognized as risk factors for job
stress, were conducted in Member States of the European Union in 1990, 1995, and 2000.
Results showed a trend across these periods suggestive of increasing work intensity. In
1990, the percentage of workers reporting that they worked at high speeds at least onefourth of their working time was 48%, increasing to 54% in 1995 and to 56% in 2000.

19

Similarly, 50% of workers reported they work against tight deadlines at least one-fourth
of their working time in 1990, increasing to 56% in 1995 and 60 % in 2000. However, no
change was noted in the period 19952000 (data not collected in 1990) in the percentage
of workers reporting sufficient time to complete tasks. A substantial percentage of
Americans work very long hours. By one estimate, more than 26% of men and more than
11% of women worked 50 hours per week or more in 2000. These figures represent a
considerable increase over the previous three decades, especially for women. According
to the Department of Labor, there has been an upward trend in hours worked among
employed women, an increase in extended work weeks (>40 hours) by men, and a
considerable increase in combined working hours among working couples, particularly
couples with young children.
Signs of Workplace Stress
Mood and sleep disturbances, upset stomach and headache, and disturbed
relationships with family; friends and girlfriends or boyfriends are examples of stressrelated problems. The effects of job stress on chronic diseases are more difficult to see
because chronic diseases take a long time to develop and can be influenced by many
factors other than stress. Nonetheless, evidence is rapidly accumulating to suggest that
stress plays an important role in several types of chronic health problems-especially
cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and psychological disorders.
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.

20

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.

Establish work schedules that are compatible with demands and responsibilities
outside the job.

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

St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company conducted several studies on the effects
of stress prevention programs in hospital settings. Program activities included (1)
employee and management education on job stress, (2) changes in hospital policies and
procedures to reduce organizational sources of stress, and (3) establishment of employee
assistance programs. In one study, the frequency of medication errors declined by 50%
after prevention activities was implemented in a 700-bed hospital. In a second study,
there was a 70% reduction in malpractice claims in 22 hospitals that implemented stress
prevention activities. In contrast, there was no reduction in claims in a matched group of
22 hospitals that did not implement stress prevention activities.

(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.

21

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.
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.

22

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.

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
23

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

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.
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.
Continuing the examples above, positive affirmations might be:

24

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 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.

2. Research Methodology
(2.1) Research Objective:
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.

25

Stress is not necessarily bad in and of itself. Although stress is typically discussed
in a negative context, it also has a positive value. Its an opportunity when it offers
potential gain. Consider for example, the superior performance that an athlete or stage
performer gives in clutch situations. Such individuals often use stress positively to rise
to the occasion and perform at or near their maximum. Similarly, many professionals see
the pressures of heavy workloads and deadlines as positive challenges that enhance the
quality of their work and the satisfaction the get from their job.
But it is different in the case of bank employees. The bank employees are the
people who also have to achieve the certain target and so for the non achievement of
target the employees remain stressed and tensed. The employees who have the simple
table work also have to face the problem of stress. Due to recession the banking sector is
also facing the problem of employee cut-offs and so the work load of the existing
employees increases and the feel stressed.
The types of stress are named as eustress and distress. Distress is the most
commonly-referred to type of stress, having negative implications, whereas eustress is a
positive form of stress, usually related to desirable events in person's life. Both can be
equally taxing on the body, and are cumulative in nature, depending on a person's way of
adapting to a change that has caused it. 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, mindbody 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

26

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.
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 14 to 15 employees are selected from all the three banks for the research of
stress among them.

(2.2) Sampling
Sample: I have taken the sample of 35 employees from three different banks of Bokaro
Steel City . All the employees were of the same designations.

27

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.
Sampling methods are classified as either probability or non probability. In
probability samples, each member of the population has a known non-zero probability of
being selected. Probability methods include random sampling, systematic sampling, and
stratified sampling. In non probability sampling, members are selected from the
population in some nonrandom manner. These include convenience sampling, judgment
sampling, quota sampling, and snowball sampling. The advantage of probability sampling
is that sampling error can be calculated. Sampling error is the degree to which a sample
might differ from the population. When inferring to the population, results are reported
plus or minus the sampling error. In non probability sampling, the degree to which the
sample differs from the population remains unknown.

Random sampling is the purest form of probability sampling. Each member

of the population has an equal and known chance of being selected. When
there are very large populations, it is often difficult or impossible to identify

28

every member of the population, so the pool of available subjects becomes

biased.

Systematic sampling is often used instead of random sampling. It is also

called an Nth name selection technique. After the required sample size has
been calculated, every Nth record is selected from a list of population
members. As long as the list does not contain any hidden order, this
sampling method is as good as the random sampling method. Its only
advantage over the random sampling technique is simplicity. Systematic
sampling is frequently used to select a specified number of records from a
computer file.

Stratified sampling is commonly used probability method that is superior

to random sampling because it reduces sampling error. A stratum is a subset
of the population that shares at least one common characteristic. The
researcher first identifies the relevant stratums and their actual
representation in the population. Random sampling is then used to select
subjects from each stratum until the number of subjects in that stratum is
proportional to its frequency in the population. Stratified sampling is often
used when one or more of the stratums in the population have a low
incidence relative to the other stratums.

Convenience sampling is used in exploratory research where the researcher

is interested in getting an inexpensive approximation of the truth. As the
name implies, the sample is selected because they are convenient. This nonprobability method is often used during preliminary research efforts to get a
gross estimate of the results, without incurring the cost or time required to
select a random sample.

Judgment sampling is a common non-probability method. The researcher

selects the sample based on judgment. This is usually and extension of
convenience sampling. For example, a researcher may decide to draw the

29

entire sample from one "representative" city, even though the population
includes all cities. When using this method, the researcher must be confident
that the chosen sample is truly representative of the entire population.

Quota sampling is the non-probability equivalent of stratified sampling.

Like stratified sampling, the researcher first identifies the stratums and their
proportions as they are represented in the population. Then convenience or
judgment sampling is used to select the required number of subjects from
each stratum. This differs from stratified sampling, where the stratums are
filled by random sampling.

Snowball sampling is a special non-probability method used when the

desired sample characteristic is rare. It may be extremely difficult or cost
prohibitive to locate respondents in these situations. Snowball sampling
relies on referrals from initial subjects to generate additional subjects. While
this technique can dramatically lower search costs, it comes at the expense
of introducing bias because the technique itself reduces the likelihood that
the sample will represent a good cross section from the population.

(2.3) Research Instrument:

Checking Yourself for Burnout
Burnout occurs when passionate, committed people become deeply disillusioned
with a job or career from which they have previously derived much of their identity and
meaning. It comes as the things that inspire passion and enthusiasm are stripped away,

30

and tedious or unpleasant things crowd in. This tool can help you check yourself for
burnout.
Introduction:
This tool can help you check yourself for burnout. It helps you look at the way
you feel about your job and your experiences at work, so that you can get a feel for
whether you are at risk of burnout.
Using the Tool:

Work through the table on paper and calculate values manually.

Fill in values appropriately on the sheet. This will automatically calculate scores
for you and interpret these scores, showing the score and interpretation in row 30.
If you choose to use the manual method, then calculate the total of the scores as

described in the instructions (note that this uses a slightly different scoring method from
the spreadsheet). Apply the score to the scoring table underneath to get the interpretation.

(2.4) Data analysis and Interpretation

The project report shows the information of the level of stress which the
employees are facing as the period of recession is going the employee cut-off and

31

turnover ratios are found to be high so the workload for the existing employees are
high. So they are facing the problem of work overload and thus they get stressed.
Lets have a watch on the basic data of the survey:

The report of HDFC bank

>=
-1
5
18
35
45

No sign of burnout here!

Little sign of burnout here, unless some factors are particularly severe
Be careful - you may be at risk of burnout, particularly if several scores
are high
You are at severe risk of burnout - do something about this urgently
You are at very severe risk of burnout - do something about this
urgently

response
0
6
8
0
0

The Report of SBI Bank

>=
-1
5
18
35

No sign of burnout here!

Little sign of burnout here, unless some factors are particularly severe
Be careful - you may be at risk of burnout, particularly if several scores
are high
You are at severe risk of burnout - do something about this urgently

32

response
0
3
10
0

45

You are at very severe risk of burnout - do something about this 0

urgently

The report of Axis Bank

>=
-1
5
18
35
45

response
No sign of burnout here!
0
Little sign of burnout here, unless some factors are particularly severe
5
Be careful - you may be at risk of burnout, particularly if several scores 3
are high
You are at severe risk of burnout - do something about this urgently
0
You are at very severe risk of burnout - do something about this 0
urgently

Analysis:
It is seen from the above data that the employees working in the banks are at the
risk of two levels that is a little sign of burn out and be careful. Taking a look on the
data of all the three banks, it is seen that the employees working in SBI are found less
stressed out compared to other banks. This can be because its a public sector. If all the
graphs are compared, it is seen that the ratio of stressed employees in AXIS banks are
high as compared to all the other banks.
33

Overall result of the survey

>=
No here! No response
-1 Yes
No sign of burnout
27
8
5
Little sign of burnout here,0unless some factors are particularly severe
18 Be careful - you may be at risk of burnout, particularly if several scores
are high
35 You are at severe risk of burnout - do something about this urgently
45 You are at very severe risk of burnout - do something about this
urgently

response
0
14
21
0
0

no sign
little sign
Be carefull
severe risk
Very high

Analysis:
From the above graph it can be seen that maximum employees of all the banks are
at a moderate level of risk of burnout while the employees who were found with a little
sign of burnout is less. So the ratio of little sign of burnout and moderate level of burnout
is 2:3.

1. Are you satisfied with the performance you give at your work?

34

Analysis:
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?

Yes
7

No

No response
0

No

No response
0

28
Yes

32

Analysis:
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?
Yes
9

No
26

No response
0

Analysis:
26% of the employees worry about their colleagues 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?

35

Analysis:
Yes
14

No
19

No response
2

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?

Analysis:
89% of the employees work for more than 8 hours which is the starting point of the stress
while 11 % of the employees dont work for more than 8 hours.

Yes
20

No
15

No response
0

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?

Analysis:

36

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.

7. Do you regularly spend time for entertainment?

Analysis:
57% of the employee spent regular time
on entertainment which helps us to remain
stress free while 43 % of the employees dont do that.
8. Is your social life balanced?
Yes
19

No

No response
2

No

No response
0

14

Yes
31

Analysis:
4 % of the employees find their social life to be balanced while 40 % of the employees
dont have their social life balanced. 6% of the employees remain silent.
9. Do you plan your work before doing?

37

Analysis:
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 dont plan their work.

Yes
22

No

No response
0

13

10. Do you fear about the quality of

your performance?

Analysis:
63% of the employees fear the
quality of performance which they
give while 37 % of the employees dont fear the quality of their work.
.

Yes
19

No
16

No response

11.Do you try to find any solution for

the problem of your stress?

.
Analysis:
69% of employees found the solution of there of stress

Yes
24

No
6

No response
5

38

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

Analysis:
Yes
11

No
18

No response
6
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) Employees opinion about how to reduce stress

This project consist of the information about the employees undergoing from
stress who working in the banks. So considering this factor this topic becomes one of the
most important part of the project as it consists of the opinion of the employees who work
in the banks. In short it was a direct interview of the employees who gave their opinion
about how to reduce stress. The response of employees in the major banks of Bokaro like
State Bank of India, The AXIS Bank, and The HDFC bank was marvelous and they have
given their valuable opinion about reducing stress as a result of the last question included
in the questionnaire 2. So the opinion if the employees were as follows:
Just smile away An employee- HDFC Bank
Just believe in your self and just do what your heart wants An employeeHDFC Bank
-Talking to family members, - Watching TV or listening good music, - Going for
a walk or long drive An employee- HDFC Bank
Believe in God An employee- HDFC Bank

39

 Respect yourself and give time to yourself An employee- HDFC Bank

Working in environment welfares, lot of positive attitude. Positive attitude is
only that reduces stress and achieves success. Most of the people frustrate due to
lack of positivity and stress level climbs up due to that. So get positive attitude
about work, about life, and forget the stress An employee- AXIS Bank
We should do such activities from which we get happiness and also make others
happy. Pass your time with your close friends and relatives. An employee- AXIS
Bank
Play and watch cricket An employee- AXIS Bank
Listen music and spend time with family An employee- SBI Bank
Get adjusted with others, Find and spend time for prayer, Study the scriptures,
See oneness in all, All are manifested of the supreme GOD An employee- SBI
Bank
These opinions are seemed to be valuable and effective as one of the effective
things has been noticed that the employees who have got less than 18 marks in the
Burnout test have given their opinions about reducing the stress.
It is also noticed that in the AXIS bank Bokaro in the time of afternoon slow
instrumental music are been played so that the employees can work stress free. This is
one of the positive things which are seen in the organization who is caring for their
employees. This will help the organization to boost up the productivity.
From the certain sample of employees selected for the research, only 10
employees have given their opinion how to reduce stress. So we can understand that how
overloaded the employees of the bank are.

(2.6) Research Flowchart

40

Questionnaire research design proceeds in an orderly and specific manner. Each

item in the flow chart depends upon the successful completion of all the previous items.
Therefore, it is important not to skip a single step. Notice that there are two feedback
loops in the flow chart to allow revisions to the methodology and instruments.
Design Methodology
Determine Feasibility
Develop Instruments
Select Sample
Conduct Pilot Test
Revise Instruments
Conduct Research
Analyze Data
Prepare Report

(2.8) Limitation of the survey

41

 The questionnaires were filled be 35 employees working in the three major Banks of
Bokaro i.e. Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and SBI Bank. 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.

(2.8.1) Advantages of Written Questionnaires

Questionnaires are very cost effective when compared to face-to-face

interviews. This is especially true for studies involving large sample sizes and large
geographic areas. Written questionnaires become even more cost effective as the
number of research questions increases.

Questionnaires are easy to analyze. Data entry and tabulation for nearly all

surveys can be easily done with many computer software packages.

Questionnaires are familiar to most people. Nearly everyone has had some

experience completing questionnaires and they generally do not make people

apprehensive.

42

Questionnaires reduce bias. There is uniform question presentation and no

middle-man bias. The researcher's own opinions will not influence the respondent to
answer questions in a certain manner. There are no verbal or visual clues to influence
the respondent.

Questionnaires are less intrusive than telephone or face-to-face surveys.

When a respondent receives a questionnaire in the mail, he is free to complete the

questionnaire on his own time-table. Unlike other research methods, the respondent
is not interrupted by the research instrument.

(2.8.2) Disadvantages of Written Questionnaires

One major disadvantage of written questionnaires is the possibility of low response rates.
Low response is the curse of statistical analysis. It can dramatically lower our confidence
in the results. Response rates vary widely from one questionnaire to another (10% 90%), however, well-designed studies consistently produce high response rates.
Another disadvantage of questionnaires is the inability to probe responses.
Questionnaires are structured instruments. They allow little flexibility to the respondent
with respect to response format. In essence, they often lose the "flavor of the response"
(i.e., respondents often want to qualify their answers). By allowing frequent space for
comments, the researcher can partially overcome this disadvantage. Comments are
among the most helpful of all the information on the questionnaire, and they usually
provide insightful information that would have otherwise been lost.
Nearly ninety percent of all communication is visual. Gestures and other visual cues are
not available with written questionnaires. The lack of personal contact will have different
effects depending on the type of information being requested. A questionnaire requesting
factual information will probably not be affected by the lack of personal contact. A
questionnaire probing sensitive issues or attitudes may be severely affected.

43

When returned questionnaires arrive in the mail, it's natural to assume that the respondent
is the same person you sent the questionnaire to. This may not actually be the case. Many
times business questionnaires get handed to other employees for completion. Housewives
sometimes respond for their husbands. Kids respond as a prank. For a variety of reasons,
the respondent may not be who you think it is. It is a confounding error inherent in
questionnaires.
Finally, questionnaires are simply not suited for some people. For example, a written
survey to a group of poorly educated people might not work because of reading skill
problems. More frequently, people are turned off by written questionnaires because of
misuse.

(2.9) Findings

44

It is analyzed from the questionnaire filled by the employees that the

employees who have scored more than 20 marks in the burnout test are not satisfied with
the performance which they give in the organization. Thus it is proved that the employees
who are desired to give better performance than their original performance are found
more stressful than the others. While at the same time the employ that have scored less
than 20 marks in the burnout test are satisfied with the performance. From the sample of
35 bank employees who have been surveyed, one is found to be a heart patient. This can
be because of high level of stress.
Very rare of the employee are to be found suffering from depression. It is proved
from the survey that the employees who have scored more than 25 marks in the burnout
test are concern about the opinion of their colleagues. And the employees who got less
than 25 marks do not mind about their colleagues opinion. Thus it is proved that the
colleagues opinion also play a lead role in the increase and decrease of the stress level.
Those who mind about their colleagues opinion are found to be more stressful.
The employees who have scored 28-29 marks in the burnout test dont believe in
sharing their problems with their spouse or friend or any closed one. Thus we can say that
sharing your problems with your spouse or close friends is a better idea to reduce stress.
In the second 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.

45

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 dont
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 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.
The employees having more than 10 marks in the burnout test says that they are
under stress. Out of 35 employees of the sample 20 of the employees accepted that the
reason for their stress is workload. 10 employees are not stressed because of the workload
but because of their family problem. 5 of the employees are not suffering from stress. 14
employees out of 30 employees who are stressed feel stressful when their boss scolds
them while 16 employees refused that they are not stressed because their boss scolds
them. All the 30 employees have accepted that they try to find the solution of their stress.

46

10 employees out of 30 employees practice yoga to reduce their stress and the other 20
employees dont practice yoga. The burnout scores of the employees who practice yoga
are either more than 25 or less than 20. Thus we can conclude that the employees have
reduced their stress by yoga therapy and other employees have just started the yoga
because of high level of burnout
The above analysis is done by the data received from the questionnaire. So the
accuracy of data depends upon the response of the employees.

47

3. BIBILIOGRAPHY

o www.mindtool.com
o Organizational Behavior Stephen P. Robbins
o Burn Out tool Questionnaire
o Self analysis of questionnaire

4. ANNEXURE
Questionnaire

48

No Questions
1
2
3

5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

13

14

Not at
all

Do you feel run down and

drained of physical or
emotional energy?
Do you find that you are prone
to negative thinking about
your job?
Do you find that you are
harder and less sympathetic
with people than perhaps they
deserve?
Do you find yourself getting
easily irritated by small
problems, or by your coworkers and team?
Do you feel misunderstood or
unappreciated by your coworkers?
Do you feel that you have noone to talk to?
Do you feel that you are
achieving less than you
should?
Do you feel under an
unpleasant level of pressure to
succeed?
Do you feel that you are not
getting what you want out of
your job?
Do you feel that you are in the
wrong organization or the
wrong profession?
Are you becoming frustrated
with parts of your job?
Do you feel that organizational
politics or bureaucracy
frustrate your ability to do a
good job?
Do you feel that there is more
work to do than you
practically have the ability to
do?
Do you feel that you do not
have time to do many of the
things that are important to
49

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Very
often

doing a good quality job?

15 Do you find that you do not
have time to plan as much as
you would like to?
Total
Instructions: For each question, put an 'X' in the column that most applies. Put one 'X'
only in each row.
Please write the total number of x at the space given at the bottom of each column

Answer
Not at all
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Very often

Number

Weight
0
1
2
3
4

50

Weighted Total

>=
-1
5
18
35
45

No sign of burnout here!

Little sign of burnout here, unless some factors are particularly severe
Be careful - you may be at risk of burnout, particularly if several scores are high
You are at severe risk of burnout - do something about this urgently
You are at very severe risk of burnout - do something about this urgently

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No Questions

Yes

Are you satisfied with the performance you give at your work?

Do you think that you are suffering from depression?

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

Do you discuss your problem with your spouse or friend or any

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

other close to you?

Do you work more than 8 hours?
You have an important function at your home and your boss asks to
give a 4 hour over time, what will be your response?
Do you regularly spend time for entertainment?
Is your social life balanced?
Do you plan your work before doing?
Do you fear about the quality of your performance?
Do you try to find any solution for the problem of your stress?
(IF YES) Do you practice yoga or any other ayurvedic therapy for
reducing stress?

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No

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