The Citizen reports that in addition to recent figures by Statistics SA noting how women in Mzansi continue to shoulder the burden of unemployment and underemployment, a report has revealed that SA’s working women are more at risk of toxic work stress.

Unique challenges faced by women in the workplace and their greater share of juggling work and household responsibilities raise their risk of toxic stress, with negative impacts on both their productivity and the organisation’s performance. Women and men not only respond differently to stress, but more women are reporting increased levels of stress. Sress-related disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more common in women. “The negative impact of stress on productivity and organisational outcomes is significant,” said Head of the MBA in Healthcare Leadership programme at Stellenbosch Business School, Prof Renata Schoeman. Stress-related symptoms can contribute to absenteeism, staff turnover, late-coming and declining quality of work, and may lead to negative peer relationships, disengagement or presenteeism. The economic impact is significant – one study found that the productivity losses of absenteeism due to depression equated to 0.62% of SA’s GDP, with depression-linked presenteeism costing the economy 4.23% of GDP. Schoeman noted that despite greater focus on corporate mental health awareness and interventions after the Covid-19 pandemic, women’s stress levels have continued to rise, and stigmas around workplace mental health persist.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bonginkosi Tiwane at The Citizen
• Lees ook, ‘Toksiese stres’ groot risiko vir werkende SA vroue, by Maroela Media

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