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Stress Costs U.S. $300 Billion a Year

Posted by michael on from the nervous-tic dept.

jburroug writes "A new study, as reported in the New York Times claims that the stress of the modern always-on work environment is taking a far greater toll on the health of workers than previously believed, to the tune of $300 billion in lost productivity and increased health care costs in the U.S. alone."

20 of 418 comments (clear)

  1. Isn't that.... by ericdano · · Score: 4, Funny

    Isn't that the same amount that people spend on porn? Hmmm.......

    --
    It's either on the beat or off the beat, it's that easy.
    I moderate therefore I rule!
    --
  2. easy solution by Rooked_One · · Score: 4, Funny

    just make XanaxOTC!!

  3. great... by dioscaido · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... now the fear of losing money @ the workplace due to stress will cause more stress, causing more money loss, and thereby creating a feedback loop that will kill us all.

    1. Re:great... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nah, if you get too stressed out management will just fire you, thus ending the cycle.

    2. Re:great... by mOdQuArK! · · Score: 2, Funny

      Excellent - I will now start referring to all my recursive loops as vicious cycles.

  4. Stressful by MikeMacK · · Score: 4, Funny

    Geez, what a depressing and stressful article.

  5. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  6. The Cure by MikeMacK · · Score: 5, Funny
    The advice that most experts offer is deceptively simple: Dr. McEwen, for example, recommends getting enough sleep, avoiding cigarettes and alcohol, eating sensibly and exercising.

    How can I do all that, I'm too busy working.

  7. on the plus side.... by brauwerman · · Score: 3, Funny

    Fortunately, stress is proving a boon to the health care industry, motivating $600M in additional revenue!

  8. Things are looking up for me-Performance anxiety by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Looks like a great time to be a stress-balls manufacturer."

    Trust me. They're already stressed enough.

  9. Re:And they wonder why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Look who's talking, Mr. Posting-to-Slashdot at 11:09PM! Err...please pretend I posted this at 8:00 pm. Thanks.

  10. The Perfect Solution! by Clark_Griswold · · Score: 5, Funny

    Outsource our stress to India! They'd be glad to stress out at 1/3 the cost.

    - Primary numbers are out to kill me

    --
    -- Mace only makes me hornier.
  11. Re:And they wonder why by loid_void · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is your BRAIN, this is your brain on WORK! yes, RELAX, don't do it.

    --
    Anyone seen my jagged little pill?
  12. Re:Greed by dhalgren99 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Out of touch executives are running the country (US)

    You mispelt Ruining...

  13. Stressssss by phrostypoison · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've recently been stressing out myself due to stress of trying to hide myself from stressing. It didn't work. I am still stressed out of stress! Say, anyone here invest STRS?

  14. Re:"Mental health" day by maximilln · · Score: 2, Funny

    At my workplace, it is widely accepted to use a day of sick leave and call it a "mental health" day.

    I've worked for companies like that. Employees who made use of a mental health day more than once in their career were labelled as psychological liabilities and systematically eliminated from the company.

    --
    +++ATHZ 99:5:80
  15. I figure I break even by mod_parent_down · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since I relieve my stress by chilling out, listening to the $20 million worth of CDs I ripped onto my computer.

  16. Re:Garumph by cerberusss · · Score: 2, Funny
    Yeah, I'm the freaky guy that stands in the bathroom watching everyone else.

    You call that freaky? I use a hidden camera for that.

    ...

    (just kidding people)

    --
    8 of 13 people found this answer helpful. Did you?
  17. this just in... by null-sRc · · Score: 2, Funny

    sleep nearly halves the world economy!

    all those man hours lost; for what?

    just so some fat cats can make money selling pajamas and pillows?!

    so come on people, pop those caffeine pills and stop hindering the economy!

    --
    -judging another only defines yourself
  18. Re:So Slack! by wizrd_nml · · Score: 2, Funny
    Which is more important? Some product getting out the door or your sanity and full head of hair?

    I tried not caring... I still lost my hair :(