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A survey of 310 attendees by Dale Carnegie Training Japan at their April, May and June Stress Management Workshops found that there had been a 40% increase in stress levels of attendees following the March 11 earthquake. Only half of those surveyed were satisfied with the level of support they were receiving from their organizations.
Attendees also felt that those around them were feeling similar amounts of stress after the earthquake. After the earthquake, concentration and efficiency levels were only operating at 70%. Engagement and motivation levels were similar at 60%.
Considering the effects of the earthquake and the aftermath, 50% saw a negative impact on their company’s business. Around 40% felt there might be some positive impact on their company’s prospects.
Regarding how long they felt their feelings of stress would continue, 30% believed they would continue for 12 months or longer.
The top five causes of stress were radiation, aftershocks, family, transport disruption and power shortages. The top three antidotes for dealing with the stress were exercise, sleep and family.
Surveyed after the workshops, 80% of attendees felt they now better understood what was stressing them, and 90% had a better idea on how to deal with their stress.
Dr Greg Story, president of Dale Carnegie Training Japan noted, “Given the right tools to deal with stress, the participants found immediate results. This fact and the case where half of those surveyed did not feel they were given sufficient support from their organization, says there is a strong need for action steps to deal with staff stress levels.”
© Japan Today
10 Comments
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sillygirl
FOR SURE - and companies and schools are still not addressing the issue. i am almost through gaman-ing.
ihavegreatlegs
Um, he has been dead for a long time. How could he have possibly interviewed these people?
Great books though. I have read his material.
Kronos
It depends on the company. However I would say generally this is true because this is Japan and people have to ganbaroooo and it is considered a person's own responsibility.
I do know some companies which took certain actions like flexible working hours, or working from home or from the Kansai region. However I also know of companies which asked their employees to keep on working even on March 11 and afterwards with the strong aftershocks still rattling the buildings or even when people could not contact their oleved ones and worried to death.
From what I heard, I would say foreign companies did more for their personnel than their Japanese counterparts. This is a general comment though.
tokyokawasaki
This is probably closer to the truth - The top three antidotes for dealing with the stress were "alcohol, cigarettes and suicide".
Ayler
where's the samuari spirit? assume the guts pose and get on with it
Harry_Gatto
Sressed? Of course we were stressed after that 'quake, the aftershocks were often only minutes apart for a week, the shops were empty of some necessities, transport was disrupted and the spectre of a nuclear meltdown was hanging over us. Stupid question. Concentration, efficiency, motivation? See above. Support from company? No problems for me and none that I saw anywhere else. And, why did their companies send them on a stress managment course? Is that not supporting them? Negative impact on business? I can't believe that 40% of the people asked felt that there would be a positive impact on their business.
So, after the course they had a better understanding of what was stressing them and how to deal with it. Money well spent just to explain the obvious? Or good marketing by Dale Carnegie.
chewitup
I am lost. What are companies made of? People. Its not a robot that comes and serves you. Everybody had stress. What can you really expect from your company about it? Everyone in that company is in the same boat!
Cricky
Apart from being an add for this company, it does state the obvious. People are under huge personal stress but most most important is work. Above family above even limb loss. As other posts say even on the day of the disaster it was expected that workers get back to work. You can worry abut your children when you clock off. The workers make the company money - you oil a robot you need to oil humans too...called Epathy.
tmarie
Sorry but what on earth are the companies supposed to be doing for these people? Their stress isn't the company's fault so...
sfjp330
Everybody is on their own and whatever you do is your responsibilty. Company has nothing to do with your disaster or personal problems. You have to make it on your own. Most important thing is that your alive and hopefully, everybody in your family is ok, and you have chance to rebuild. Material things are secondary. When you go through this type of experience, you probably learned to be more humble and patient with people around you.