FACTORS OF STAFF STRESS RESISTANCE UNDER ORGANIZATIONAL PRESSURE

The paper reveals the problem of organizational stress closely connected with working conditions, responsibilities of employment and finding solutions in situations of uncertainty. The study of the issue is particularly relevant nowadays when there is a transition from stability to innovations in organizations. The main feature of an organization of the future is flexibility, ability to change, constant adaptation to the dynamic environment. Therefore, the significance of employee stable behavior under pressure (stress resistance) becomes an important factor in ensuring the reliability and efficiency of professional activity, both individual and in a team. The study finds that a growing part of modern secondary school teaching staff (48 %) is characterized by low ability to cope with organizational stress. Depending on the degree of exposure to stress, types of employees have been identified and their stress resistance factors: subjective (optimism, energy, tolerance for ambiguity) and objective – those relating to the working conditions, characteristics of activities and professional duties. The research has revealed a small part of the staff (10 %) who possess high resistance to stress, which is associated with the capacity for flexibility and adaptability in a difficult situation, with the ability to accept other people's values, and vigor. Analysis of the correlation between variables of organizational stress level and personal characteristics has revealed the following results: employee stress tolerance is closely connected with the development of tolerance for uncertainty, high activity, personal willingness to change, optimism and resistance to such organizational stressors as having unpleasant responsibilities and contradictory instructions, enhanced responsibility for the work, the need for immediate responsible decision making and doing somebody’s job, the presence of outside and background noise in the premises.