Izvori profesionalnog stresa i uloga supervizije u njegovoj prevenciji u organizacijama civilnog društva

Professionals working in the civil sector are exposed to occupational stress resulting both from the type of work they do, the characteristics of the users they work with and the internal and external factors characterizing civil society. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study is to gain insight into the sources of occupational stress in civil society organizations (CSOs). Moreover, the study aims to examine the role of supervision in reducing occupational stress. The study was done on two focus groups with 13 employees from 9 CSOs from the area of the City of Zagreb; which protect human rights, provide services and direct help to people. A thematic analysis of data determined that the sources of occupational stress in CSO come from two major areas: (1) the characteristics of work in CSO (the workload, insufficient time for preparation, the organization of work, project and administrative work, working conditions, the characteristics and way of working with users, the social context of the work of CSO); (2) how CSOs are managed (the type of leadership and decision-making, precarious and insufficient funding, the functioning of the team). The negative the outcomes of work in CSO are identified as specific topics (dissatisfaction and the need to change jobs, potential physical and mental health hazards). The results indicated that the outcomes of supervision in CSO can be numerous. For example, it can encourage professional development, better professional performance, learning and new insights, professional security, improvement of relationships and functioning of the organization, and reduction of professional stress. But it can also be an additional (undesirable) work obligation in an employee's busy schedule. Therefore, it is necessary to facilitate the development of specific competencies of supervisors for work in civil society organizations that enableel will make them to perceive the interaction of the individual - work - organization in the context of the civil sector. Also, the results showed that experience and knowledge of work in CSOs is a crucial competence for supervisors to work in CSO, which will make it easier for them to perceive the interaction individual - work – organization, and effective mastery of different supervisory situations.