Jobs stressful, but at least we like each other

I took Monday off last week, so I had tons of work to do when I got back to the office on Tuesday.

That meant I had to work late Tuesday night. And then I had to take work home — in fact, I'm writing this column on the Mac in my basement.

All of which means I'm tired, burned out and more than a little stressed.

The only thing that makes me feel better is that many of you out there can relate to my predicament.

Misery loves company.

And, according to a recent survey, many of you are in misery.

The study from Pendaflex, a manufacturer of "organizational solutions," says 48 percent of American workers experience pressure that has reached harmful levels — what the people who wrote the Pendaflex press release call the "psychologically toxic" office. Such a workplace, Pendaflex says, can cause workers severe stress, anxiety and depression, which may lead to ulcers, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.

Pendaflex goes on to identify five main factors that affect work stress. See if any of these hit close to home (or perhaps I should say, close to the office):

• Heavy workload, cited by 52 percent of American workers.

• Unreasonable boss, suffered by 37 percent.

• Disorganization, which afflicts 43 percent.

• Unrealistic targets, causing stress for 32 percent.

• Short deadlines, affecting 31 percent.

(These statistics are based on research conducted among 2,544 office workers in the United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands by Directive Analytics, according to Pendaflex. Of the respondents, 504 were in the United States.)

Pendaflex cites a workplace psychologist who says workers have no power to fix anything but disorganization, so if people get organized, they'll feel less stress. Coincidentally, Pendaflex has products that can help in this regard.

But fortunately for me, I don't need them. Organization is not my problem. I do, however, struggle with a heavy workload, sometimes unrealistic targets and daily deadlines.

As for the unreasonable boss, I have a feeling that sometimes I am that person. But that particular statistic left me a little confused (upping my stress level even more!).