Bankansattes coping med at vende tilbage til arbejdet efter stress

Abstract

This Master thesis examines the experiences and challenges of Danish employees in banks, of different occupation, and how they have coped with returning to their job after a fulltime sick leave with stress. The aim of this thesis is to investigate and describe an unexplored area within the banking area, to gain new knowledge of the process of returning after stress. The study is based on the theory of coping mechanisms by Richard Lazarus. The field of interest originates from my former work life in a bank, where I was sick with stress for seven months. The phenomenological study uses qualitative data, consisting of semi-structured interviews of seven employees within three different banks. The analysis is divided into three parts. The first part is a thick description of how the employees started to work after their stress. Second part of the analysis elaborates on the individual goals in connection with their working lives and how they have coped with the stressor related to that goal. The third part analyses the coping mechanisms with returning to the work life after a sick leave with stress and include an analysis of the habits and psychological safety that the employees has experienced. Furthermore, this study results in a recommendation for leaders how to support the employees return to the workplace after stress.