You have likely heard a friend or coworker, perhaps even yourself, complain about feeling stressed and overwhelmed with their busy schedule.

Stress Bragging in The Workplace

This behavior is familiar to everyone, and we may have engaged in it ourselves at times, according to Jessica Rodell, a management professor at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business and the study's lead author in the Personnel Psychology journal.

While "stress bragging" or "busy bragging" indicates the person's perceived importance and indispensability, recent research suggests that it could do you more harm than good.

Its Implications Towards Colleagues

In an initial survey, 360 participants assessed statements from hypothetical coworkers recently returning from a conference based on likability, competence, and the likelihood of offering assistance at work.

In the survey, the colleague exhibited stress bragging and described the conference as "just one more thing on their full plate, they were already stressed to the max and others have no idea the stress they are under."

Participants consistently rated the individual exhibiting stress bragging as notably less likable and less competent than those who mentioned work stress or expressed positivity about the conference. Participants also indicated they would be less inclined to assist the complaining coworker if they were overloaded with tasks.

Rodell observes that individuals inadvertently damage themselves by engaging in behavior that will enhance their image among colleagues.

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Stress Bragging Only Breeds More Stress

Rodell's team discovered similar outcomes when surveying an additional 218 actual employees regarding their encounters with stress-bragging coworkers. They also found that employees with colleagues who engage in stress bragging frequently reported experiencing elevated levels of personal stress and burnout.

When someone consistently discusses and boasts about their stress, it creates the impression that being stressed is commendable and considered a typical and anticipated aspect of the work culture, which can influence coworkers, making them feel more stressed, ultimately leading to increased burnout or disengagement from work just like a contagious spiral effect, where stress spreads from one person to the next. Meanwhile, individuals who casually mentioned their stress levels or were perceived as stressed did not generate the same negative reactions from their coworkers and did not contribute to increasing stress levels among their colleagues.

The issue is not being stressed itself. Individuals perceived as stressed are viewed as more competent. Hence, employees must reconsider before bragging about their heavy workload or overloaded schedule, says Rodell. If one genuinely feels stressed, confiding in the right person and discussing it is acceptable. However, it is important to recognize that stress should not be treated as a badge of honor to boast about, as it can have negative consequences.

Rodell also suggests that managers should be more crucial in identifying this behavior. She emphasizes that it is not benign and affects not only the bragging coworker but could also have a ripple effect with broader implications for the workplace. 

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