Stressful Characteristics of Work of Russian and French Software Developers

Stressful Characteristics of Work of Russian and French Software Developers


Kozina I.М.

Сand. Sci. (Soc.), Prof., National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia. ikozina@hse.ru

Serezhkina Е.V.

Сand. Sci. (Soc.), Senior Lecturer, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia. katerinaserezhkina@gmail.com

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For citation:

Kozina I.М., Serezhkina Е.V. Stressful Characteristics of Work of Russian and French Software Developers. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2019. No 5. P. 26-35




Abstract

The paper discusses stress factors coming from the work content and labor conditions among Russian and French software developers. Empirical analysis used in our research is based on the case study in two IT companies, in Russia and France. The results indicate that the main factors leading to stress are work overload, uncertainty about the future and career, lack of the feedback and limitations for creativity. Together, these factors form a common «professional risk zone». However, their character and the degree of impact on workers do differ between two companies. In particular, Russian programmers adapt better to stressors due to perceiving negative work conditions as close to normal for an extended period of time. As result, the time when the stress moves into its detrimental stage and starts affecting the performance remains unnoticed for both, management and worker.


Keywords
work-related stress; workplace stressors; work environment; psychosocial hazards; occupational safety and health

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