Question

Ricardo experiences a lot of stress at his job because his boss never gives him clear instructions. While Ricardo's coworkers relish the autonomy, Ricardo feels threatened by the fact that he's never quite sure what he's supposed to do. He is struggling with a(n) _____ demand.

a) Role
b) Task
c) Interpersonal
d) Organizational

Answer 1

Ricardo feels stressed due to a lack of clear instructions from his boss, which leads to role demand stress. This situation highlights the importance of clear communication and structured environments for employees who have a higher need for leadership and well-defined roles to prevent job strain.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ricardo is struggling with a role demand. This is because his boss does not provide clear instructions, which creates uncertainty about his job responsibilities. In contrast with his coworkers who enjoy the autonomy, Ricardo feels stressed by the ambiguity surrounding his role. He prefers a structured environment with well-defined tasks to feel comfortable in his position. Without clear responsibilities, Ricardo likely experiences job stress, as the demands placed on him are not well communicated, leading to a sense of being overwhelmed or threatened. In Ricardo's case, his boss's lack of clear instructions creates ambiguity and uncertainty, leading to stress and difficulty in understanding what he should do. This is a common challenge faced by employees when there is a lack of clarity in their role expectations. This situation exemplifies job strain, which is a reaction to the demand that exceeds an individual's ability to cope, and can negatively affect job satisfaction and performance.