Meditation at Work
Sex and family duties play their part
Interestingly the ILO also points out that: 'A combination of stress-inducing factors at work and outside the workplace is often responsible for bringing individuals closer to the point where they can no longer cope efficiently with work-related stress. One particular common combination is the interaction between work and family-life.'
Gender differences are also significant. It is well established that the total workload of women who are employed full-time is higher than that of full-time male workers, particularly where there are family responsibilities. Research in Sweden found that the while 86% of women are in the workforce, the division of labor between partners at home was highly unequal and the burden fell overwhelmingly on women.
In a 1992 survey of 1300 full-time employees in private companies in the United States it was found that stress affects women more than men and that they were significantly more likely to report burn-out, stress-related illnesses or a desire to resign from their jobs for a variety of reasons including discriminatory practices including poorer pay for the same work, lack of family-friendly work policies and lower levels of control in their jobs, since women still tend to occupy less senior jobs than men. Single women with children, along with low-paid college graduates are at highest risk of burn-out. Some 50% of single women with children reported burn-out compared with 31% of married women with children. So broadly speaking we have a pattern where those most vulnerable and least privileged cop it yet again.
Yet The Observer article quoted earlier also interestingly points out that: 'Women appear to be taking a more active role in trying to cope with the stress of daily (working) life. Spending on yoga and Pilates classes has rocketed, along with massage and acupuncture sessions, as many turn to natural therapies and exercise to relieve muscle tension and give themselves a life outside work and the family. "Spiritual spending", as it is known, will reach 670 million this year, one of the boom industries which seems to be taking over from the traditional gym classes'.
'I was pleasantly surprised at how effective a short meditation session at lunchtime is in reducing stress levels. I found that I was able to concentrate clearly and calmly in subsequent conciliations I conducted. I wish these classes were available daily as a technique to create more peaceful and effective work practices.'
Lynette Byrnes, Conciliation Officer, NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, Sydney.