Chat Time 49 - Is the term – ‘work pressure’ foreign to you?

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Questions

1. What makes the Hong Kong workforce happy/unhappy?
   A positive working environment, a sense of achievement and a feeling of personal growth make the Hong Kong workforce happy. On the other hand, an uncomfortable environment, ineffective communication and a sense of insecurity make staff feel frustrated.   

2. What benefits can happy staff bring to the company?
   A happy workforce is more engaged, creative and more focused, increasing the overall productivity of a company.  

3. How can employees stay happy?
    Employees will not become happy in their work without a comfortable working area. They will be happy when they are treated fairly and generously. To make employees happy, the company could also give incentives like a year-end bonus, sponsored picnics and gift cards for years of service.

Individual Response

1. Can you give one example of pressure related to work that most Hong Kong people are facing?
    Most Hong Kong people are facing great working pressure. Increased workload, extremely long work hours and intense pressure to perform at peak levels all the time make employees physically and emotionally exhausted.

2. What are the bad effects on someone who has excessive work pressure?
   Excessive work pressure adversely affects someone’s physical and emotional health. Long-term exposure to stress can raise blood pressure, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Long-term stress can also cause anxiety and depression.

3. Can work pressure have any positive effects?
   Work pressure can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger. It can also drive us to perform better. So some people do their best work under pressure.

4. How can we help if our family members have great pressure at work?
  We can help by paying attention to their physical and emotional health. We can encourage them to do regular exercise which can boost energy and relieve stress. We can also let them rest well in order to keep their emotional balance.

5. Do you think that students in Hong Kong are under great pressure?
  Most Hong Kong students are under great pressure from schoolwork and academic performance. They need to cope with heavy and difficult homework. Competition to university places is keen. Chinese parents also give great pressure on their children to strive for academic excellence.