Workplace Diversity can be a real problem
but do you want it to get this bad?!

We all spend the best part of our lives working at our job or chosen career sometimes working closely with others.

So it's only natural that conflicts happen,
workplace diversity and employment issues are created.

Here, we highlight some of the most common employment workplace diversity issues raised in the workplace and give you some practical tips and suggestions to help overcome them.

Click on the links below
to jump to each workplace diversity topic...

Leaving Your Job	Discrimination, Bullying & Harrassment	Stress
Management Issues & Conflicts	Conflicts & Poor Teamwork	Aggression & Violence
Human Rights	Mental Health	Alcohol & Drug Abuse
Loss & Grief	Related Pages	FAQ

 

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Leaving Your Job

Here is some excellent advice in workplace diversity issues from workSMART to help today's working people get the best out of the world of work.

If you are thinking of leaving your job you may want to check out these common workplace diversity questions and get all the answers to make your decision easier...

Click here to see all the right workSMART answers.

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Discrimination, Bullying & Harrassment

WorkSMART has the answers to your workplace diversity issues here too! From sex discrimination, colour or religion they can help with the most harrassing of situations.

Click here to see the WorkSMART answers.

Or see our page on personnel security topics for more information on discrimination in the workplace.

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Stress in the Workplace
Published by BUPA's Health Information Team, May 2004

In the UK it is estimated that work-related stress is responsible for six million days of sick leave a year, with stress being linked to many minor and major illnesses.

For most people, work is a significant and meaningful feature of life with the majority of us spending around 25% of our adult lives working. While work can provide us with structure, purpose, satisfaction, self-esteem and spending power, the workplace can also be a setting of stress and worry over workplace diversity and other issues.

There is no single cause of work-related stress. While stress can be triggered by sudden, unexpected pressures, it is often the result of a combination of stressful factors which accumulate over time. Some people can become so used to the symptoms of excessive stress that it goes unnoticed to their detriment. Most work-related stress is related to management of work, relationships at work, organisational set-up and whether you feel you have power and control in your work.

The experience of stress is different for every person. Some people are affected more than others, so what is stressful for one person may not be stressful for another. It can depend on your personality type and on how you have learned to respond to pressure and other workplace diversity issues.

Physical symptoms

Emotional and behavioural changes

Self-help
It is impossible to escape pressure and workplace diversity issues at work altogether, so it is important to learn how to manage stress. There are a number of ways in which you can reduce the negative impact of stress, most of which involve taking a good look at how you function within your work setting and beyond.

Make time to relax at work by stretching and breathing deeply. This will help you to keep focused and prevent tired muscles. Simply ensuring you get outside for a walk during your lunch break can be helpful.

It is helpful to identify which situations stress you most. Practise how you could behave differently in tricky situations or situations involving other workplace diversity issues. Perhaps you need to be more assertive, or you need to learn to "take a step back" in tricky situations.

It can seem hard to confront the causes of workplace stress and to ask for help. But sometimes, support and advice from your line manager or human resources department is necessary to help you deal with workplace diversity difficulties or other causes at work, whether it is to clarify your job role and responsibilities, or to deal with workplace bullying.

If you find talking about your workplace diversity concerns difficult, it may help to make notes to bring along to the work interview with you. Make these clear and specific.

Try to remember that it is in everybody's interest that the workplace is as stress-free as possible.

There is increasing evidence in workplace diversity issues that regular physical activity helps to reduce stress levels. It provides valuable "time out" and can trigger brain chemicals that improve mood. A brisk daily walk is ideal, but the main thing is to choose an activity that you enjoy.

Learning to relax can improve sleep and relieve stress-related physical pains such and stomach pains and headaches. Your GP surgery or the local library will have details of adult education classes where you can learn helpful techniques. Libraries loan books, tapes or computer-based packages.

Confiding in trusted friends or relatives is a useful way to articulate worries and negative feelings. It can give a fresh perspective and help to make stressful situations and workplace diversity issues more manageable.

Avoid unhelpful responses to stress such as increased alcohol intake, smoking, and high caffeine intake. These all increase stress levels. Regular meals and a balanced, high-fibre diet will provide sustained levels of energy to keep you on an even keel.

At the end of the day, reflect on what you've achieved rather than worrying about future work. Don't be too hard on yourself and remember to take each day as it comes.

There are also courses for stress management and lots of self help resources. Some workplaces may provide a confidential counselling service or telephone helpline. Libraries, social services and local health centres will have details of local courses.

Mental Health Foundation
020 7802 0300
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Royal College of Psychiatrists
020 7235 2351
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk