Stress: A Toll On The Soul

Automotive Industries,  June, 1999  by Norman Martin

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One suggestion, Morrill says, is to have line executives, not personnel people, explain the coming changes to the ranks. "They need line executives who can actually talk about the changes that are going to come, or have been through these changes in similar corporations."

At the end of the day, though, company leaders absolutely have to demonstrate the behavior, if it's going to take hold. "It has to start somewhere, and really the best place to start is at the top," says GM's McDonald.

Any questions? Ask Ron Zarella.

RELATED ARTICLE: On The Move

Adjusting To A New Country Means Added Stress

Overseas stints are almost inevitable in this global industry. They can be exciting, but they also put huge stress on family life. For employers, the stakes are high, too. Unhappy families represent the main cause of failed foreign assignments.

In trying to make transitions abroad smoother, auto suppliers and OEMs are increasing their focus on easing disruptions. Siemens Automotive in Auburn Hills, Mich., for instance, has people scattered around the world, from its parent's headquarters in Germany to Changchun, China.

The stress of moving can be especially hard on the family. While the employee has a built-in social structure, those left at home may not be so lucky. Take Hans-Joachim Schmidt, a Siemiens marketing manager who recently moved from Engelslat, Germany, to Auburn Hills, Mich. While he adjusted quite well, his wife had a difficult time. With no local mass transit, he says, "she fell like she was in prison."

For that reason, multinational companies are being much more proactive in assisting the entire family when it comes to overseas assignments. At Siemens, a number Of company-paid services are provided including cross-cultural training, mail service, housing locators, tax services and even how to find a good local grocery, says Allison Meengs, the company's human resource administrator.

Meanwhile, for Americans going overseas, clearly, learning a new language is among the highest stresses.

Joseph Schuck, director of sales at Siemens spent three years in Reagansburg, Germany. "They will tolerate you if you speak English, but if you speak German they will accept you," he says. But despite eight years of German language training here, he says he was still struggling after a year to speak effectively in technical areas.

So with greater emphasis on language ability and some handholding by the company, these stays abroad won't have to be interminable. They'll be fun.

RELATED ARTICLE: Taking Our Stress Test

As part of AI's first engineering survey, we queried 1,200 OEM and supplier engineers among our readers about everything from job-related stress to where they expect to be working in five years. The survey was mailed to a random selection of engineers.