Is stress inevitable?

Is stress inevitable? : examples of countries that are able to deal with stress.

In this article, we will look at examples of countries that have been successful in their fight against stress: countries of Northern Europe. These countries have been taking this issue seriously since many decades and have thus, developed an efficient stress management model which gives them a clear enough lead in this area. Consequently, employees are less stressed and are more motivated, and therefore they are more efficient. These countries thereby avoid some of the problems which will be mentioned in the second part.

Following our analysis of the Nordic countries, we will study methods in order to reduce stress in the individual. There are different methods such as changing the room’s layout (for example axing open-spaces), or more personal methods such as relaxation, yoga classes etc. We will then select and study the most efficient method to fight against stress at work.

Let’s take the case of the bad French pupil compared to its Northern European neighbors

France has a considerable delay when it comes to fighting against stress, compared to countries of North of Europe. This delay is highlighted by an interview of Patrick Légeron, psychiatrist and author of a report about stress, which has been submitted to the Government in 2008. He declares that "France is one of the countries where companies don’t make much effort to reduce stress”. Throughout his answers, he notices overall the same causes and consequences as those seen in the first two parts above.

According to him, France has an issue managing stress in the company: suicides have increased a lot compared to other places in the world.

Basically, the problem that we face is that French management is more focused on the financial aspect rather than the human aspect. They don’t integrate well-being into their HR policy. This is mainly why, relationships between co-workers are often bad accompanied by an increase of stress.

Managing stress for the company: the example of Northern countries

We have seen that these countries have served as an example to others when it comes to stress reduction, and that people living is these countries are less stressed in general than in other Western countries.

Also, we have observed that Northern companies have a more appreciated rhythm of life than other European countries, to name a few.

The case of Northern countries can be taken on in two ways:

- with companies, by the management style that was very well developed by Patrick Légeron in his study: the integration of stress in the everyday life of the company and up to the highest in the hierarchy, by the ongoing maintenance of a stress management class by a specialist. Therefore, companies make the employee’s welfare a priority, while still looking for profit, just like other companies. In fact, employees feel that they are accompanied in their work, which makes them realize that their company includes them in their HR policy, in order to value their brand-image and in a quality approach. It is not the case for the majority of Western countries.

- The way of life. If companies also look after their employees, and they both manage their stress, it is easily explainable thanks to the evolution of the managers’ mentality and their way of thinking. They are definitely impregnated with these countries’ lifestyle which has always privileged the proximity to nature, ecology, a rhythm of slow and quiet lives, in countries where stress factor is low. Generally, we can see that people who are less stressed fulfill the criteria’s which we have cited above.

This way of life, should lead us to positive reviews of our own models : did we have an exaggerated outlook that made managers forget about the human aspect and the importance of the social factor, inside the company, focusing just on the results ? Did we neglect important factors such as leisures , not linked to business ? Do we make our life more complicated and more loaded with tasks to do instead of taking time to think about ourselves the impact of well-being in a company ?

Northern countries have answered to these issues by the logic of their way of life, which, as we have noticed, "rubbed off" on style management in these countries, so that in modern society, and according to the “ouvrageHeureux”, written by Malene Rydhal. Denmark is the country where people say they are the happiest in the world.

Edouard DUBAIL, Camille Gervasoni et Emile HENRY 
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