Stress at work...?

Question

As far as jobs that are physically stressful mine is one of the lowest, but it's still very stressful mentally and emotionally. Okay, so I work in a call center handling Comcast Video tech support and billing. So I get at least 5 calls per day where I have someone yelling at me and being extremely rude. And it's really hard to deal. It was okay before hand because I could just sit there an mostly ignore the fact that they were being difficult and just focus on the job, but now that I'm 24 weeks pregnant I get a little bit more testy when people are rude. So my question is...Does anyone know a good way to deal with stress at work when you don't have much time for breaks and leaving the work area? Also, we don't have much time in between calls, so that really cuts down on relaxing time too. Any suggestions?

The most stressful calls I get are when A: people haven't paid their bill in months and are sooo suprised that they owe hundreds of dollars, or B: when a customers service is down and our dispatch department (who don't talk to customers) is booked up solid for more than a couple days. Most of the time, these people don't respond nicely to "I appologise for the inconvinence", and "I'm terribly sorry that this has happened", because once you utter those words, their next comment is "Well if you understand so much then do something to fix it". I just need something to calm me down after calls so that I am not as stressed out. :) Thanks for all of your answers though.

Answer 1

3 option
1 fnd a better job
2 don't care what peple say "stik and stons may break ....
3 get a pregnancy leave.... its the law u could get a leaveand still get paid

Answer 2

It sounds like you need a few techniques for dealing with irate customers. The most effective technique I know for calming an irate caller is call active listening. It involves listening carefully and repeating the feelings that the customer is experiencing in your own words.

Once an irate caller feels understood, the anger level drops immediately. The best book on this and other very important communication skills is: People Skills by Bolton.

It helps to stay above the fray by understanding the dynamics of the conversation and not getting hooked. Believe it or not, using the skills will help your stress level as it lowers the anger of your customers.

I must disagree with the next poster about her suggesting about being insincere and sugary sweet. I think that will escalate the problem.

Answer 3

You need to let what they are saying go in one ear and out the other. They are just taking their frustrations out on you because you were the one that answered the phone. If it had been someone else then they would have heard about it. Just tell them as you have that you are sorry and this is what you can do for them. Ignore the rest of the garbage they are giving you. If that doesn't work then you might want to think about finding another job with not so much stress

Answer 4

I did call center for a trash company for a few years. It was the same kind of thing. I found the best way I could relieve my stress was being sugary sweet. Get very used to saying "I'm so sorry this happened to you" It diffuses the call almost right away. It is a stressful job. The best way for you not to feel stressed is to take your job extremely seriously, be the best at your job and it will be less bothersome when people are rude to you....I found if I took ownership of the problem, I did not have to take on the blame part of it. You will get the occasional person who will be extremely rude (Some guy told me to drop dead....because of his trash!!!) for those people I would give yourself the 10 seconds you get to stretch...also I drank a lot of water, walked on brakes, got enough sleep at night and ate a healthier diet.... I hope these things help....Just remember to tell yourself you are good at your job, any time someone calls you it could be a boss and your customer is truely trying to be irate with their situation and not you, so if you can be the one to handle their situation you will difuse their rudeness. Sorry you have to shoulder their negative energy.

Answer 5

if you can cut back on hrs or try to find another job nothing is worth putting the stress on your baby or you especially not now you are already going through enough just being pregnant without all the extra believe me sometimes people can really get to you even if you are not pregnant i know i am 4 weeks and before it was bad but w/ all the changes going on i just want to slap somebody

Answer 6

don't let the phone calls stress you out to where you are hurting the baby. your baby is more important then your job. when a caller is rude let another employee deal with it and if your boss doesn't agree to it then have your hours cut down at work a little bit. yeah talk to your boss and see what he can do for ya.good luck.

Answer 7

Try relaxing a bit and take deep breathes as you go along with your job...stretch your patience when it comes to their answers...it is really that way; as long as it does not affect you badly...it won't be your problem. Remember you are pregnant and just could be as sensitive as your growing baby with you so take care of your self and enjoy in what you do.

Answer 8

i know exactly how you feel! a long time ago i used to be a manager at a very big mortgage company. i was incharge of 200+ employees and always had to deal with irate customers. there were two phrases i used to live by: " if you can't wow them with your wisdom baffel em with your bullsh*it!" and the other was " acknowledge and ignore" these seemed to help me alot. but.. i have to say once you learn to do these things its really hard to stop! i still tend to find myself living by these phrases every now and then!

Answer 9

My dear,if you are someone like me you may need to get some rest away from your work. Your baby needs a happy mom.Dont let anyone drive you crazy!At least you've been managing well before the pregnancy.God help you.

Answer 10

Pray to reilieve stress and if people get testy just be proud that you were able to hold out.

Answer 11

Tell them to hold on. Take a breath and come back to them. But if you dont like it get a new job.