Stressed depressed workers less productive

[The Straight Story]

Stressed depressed workers less productive

BOSTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Psychological stress where people earn their paychecks can make it more difficult for depressed workers to be productive, U.S. researchers found.

Lead author Debra Lerner, director of the Program on Health, Work and Productivity at Tufts Medical Center's Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, said the researchers screened 14,268 adults employed at doctor's offices. They compared 286 depressed workers with 193 who were not depressed.

The study, to be published in the January/February issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion, found that in many cases, the depressed employees had problems at work -- often having difficulty handling the pacing of work, managing a routine, performing physical job tasks and managing their usual workload.

"There is a large economic cost and a human cost," Lerner said in a statement.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2010/01/01/Stressed-depressed-workers-less-productive/UPI-53681262381436/

[SharonAnn]

1. D'uh!

[Rhiannon12866]

4. That was my first thought... K&R.

:-(

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. "The beatings will continue until morale improves."

[Edweird]

3. Well, yeah. It also ruins your health. Supressed immune system, ulcers, and other

manifestations.

[elocs]

5. This came up in my city when Woodman's supermarkets were going to cut mental health

coverage from their health plan because it was too expensive.

A short-sighted and stupid decision considering how common mental health problems have become in our society.

[ZombieHorde]

6. Recommended. nt

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

7. I recently talked to a person working at corporate headquarters

for an industry that has recently had mass layoffs. I was told that the remaining workers are in a living breathing stress vacuum, afraid to so much as smile for fear that their job will be eliminated next. People won't even take vacation, months turning into months, over a year now, just to be sure their job is there when they get up the next morning. Not to mention the now unsaid, unspoken, but understood mandatory 50 to 60 hour work weeks.

[HughMoran]

8. tells me about it

I was almost grateful by the time I finally got laid off at my last job. It was pretty miserable toward the end.

[ixion]

9. no kidding...

they're just figuring this out new, eh? :rofl: