How can I reduce stress at my workplace?
I am a British engineering manager in a design house in England. We design hi-tech microchips for mobile phones. We are owned by a big American corporation.
I work with the US workforce on a daily basis but report to a VP who is British. He is the founder of a British start-up firm that made it to the big time and he made his millions (and a bit for us) by selling it to the American firm. He has conservative opinions on how the design house should maintain its british approach that made it so successful.
The US want us to use their procedures but this causes the engineers here to work late hours when the US is awake (8hr time difference). He hates the kind of place it has become and wants to leave in a year or so (when his shares vest).
Its inevitable that we will eventually be swept up into the arms of the global hyper-corporation! Unfortuantely for me I manage a team of UK and US engineers. So how do I cope? The more I Americanize the place myself the tougher it gets.
I work in a stressful environment. First, you must take care of yourself — get out and walk on every break you have. Try to get outside, if not, walk indoors. Eat correctly, bring your lunch and snacks. Be healthy. Other employees will see what your doing and one-by-one will follow. Try to lobby for a fitness center, picnic tables outside the work place, green areas outside. Healthy food in the vending machines and cafeteria.
when in Rome? or come home.
J answered your question already.