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UNDERSTANDING STRESSand cancer). In the latter category the strongest evidence relates to coronary heartdisease (CHD) (Tennant 1999; Rosengren et al 2006).Stress can also impact detrimentally on the progression of a disease and can impair ourdecision-making in terms of how we respond to illnesses and the treatment we seek.On the organisationResearch has also found that stress can result in adverse corporate outcomes, such as: In addition to the direct costs of stress on the organisation, there is also a risk ofdamaging the image and reputation of the organisation. If news of litigation andturnover problems gets into the public arena, this may well deter potential employeesfrom applying for jobs with the organisation.Slide 8 – Causes of stressOutside of workStress clearly does not confine itself just to the workplace. The stress caused by majorevents outside of work – such as bereavement, divorce, changes in financial status –can often have an adverse impact on work performance. It’s unrealistic to think thatindividuals can keep their home problems away from the workplace and vice versa – ifan individual is stressed by non-work-related issues, but this affects their behaviour andperformance at work, then it very quickly becomes an issue for the organisation.In the workplaceStress can stem from a variety of sources in the workplace. Two frameworks whichcapture the different sources of workplace stress are the ASSET model (Cartwrightand Cooper 2002) and the Management Standards for Work-related Stress (HSE2004); both are based on widely accepted models of stress.14A free sample chapter from Stress by Robertson Cooper. Published by the CIPD. © 2008 CIPD.All rights reserved; no part of this excerpt may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in anyform or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior writtenpermission of the publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by theCopyright Licensing Agency.If you would like to purchase this product please go to www.cipd.co.uk/bookstore