ut, variety and change are "two of the most important weapons we have" (p. 36).
There are a number of health and safety hazards which may result from employee stress and burnout. In terms of the individual employee's health, stress can cause severe physiological and psychological damage. Feelings of stress send signals to the body which have an effect on the heart rate and blood pressure. As a result of this action, there is an increased possibility that the person will experience "irregular heartbeats, hardening of the arteries, and thrombosis" (Rosenthal, 1991, p. 72). Psychological problems resulting from stress may include anxiety and depression. The person experiencing stress is usually less attentive than usual. This may result in a number of safety hazards on the job. A stressful employee will be less alert and may cause more accidents than other employees. Stress and burnout on the job also result in a lower level of productivity for the organization. For example, as a result of stress: "Performance levels begin to drop; decision-making abilities become impaired; morale begins to sag; and efficiency and effectiveness decline" (LaChance, 1991, p. 26).
It should be noted that the effects of stress are not all bad. For some people, stress is a positive factor in cre
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