Is Job Insecurity Killing You?

Over the past decade, the workplace has changed a lot. If you think about it, in the 90's we had the image of Dilbert, stuck in his cubicle, without a way to get ahead. From there, we saw the iconic movie "Office Space", where you see the frustrated employee with the overbearing boss. These days, those images are more likely to have professionals pining for the "good old days" when being stuck in middle management was the greatest fear.



In today's world, job insecurity is on the rise and with it comes the over worked employees who are constantly in fear that their job is going to disappear without warning. Many times, they have seen friends and co-workers end up out of a job and have to wonder when their time will be up. For them, each day is stressful and if that wasn't enough, they are often required to do the work of two or three people in order to hang on to their jobs.



The stress is starting to wear on the workforce. A study by the American Psychological Association reveals that things are getting bleak. Here is what their surveys found:

• Sixty-two percent say work has a significant impact on their stress levels.
• Almost 50 percent indicate their stress levels have increased between 2007 and 2008.
• Forty-five percent of workers say job insecurity has a significant impact on stress levels.

Another study in Michigan found that workers who reported job insecurity are much more likely to meet the criteria for depression, to report recent anxiety attacks and have other stress related illnesses. In addition, suicide rates among middle-aged workers have increased, which is a big red flag for corporate America.



I'm not sure what can be done to help, but the best thing that anyone who is struggling with job insecurity can do is to take care of their mental health. This means looking for ways to find peace through spirituality, hobbies, meditation or whatever works best for the individual. Long term stress is a killer and not taking care of yourself will shave years off of your life.



Are you in an insecure job? What do you do to combat stress? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.