EFFECT OF STRESS ON EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY (A STUDY OF SELECTED BANKS IN SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA)

ABSTRACT

This work examined the effect of stress on employee productivity in selected banks in South-East Nigeria. The study became necessary following high rate of stress witnessed in the banking industry. The study aimed to determine the effect of workload pressure, role conflict, family stress and job security on employee productivity. Relevant theoretical and empirical literatures were examined. The person environment (PE) fit theory, the framework of occupational stress, and the demand control support models were employed as the theoretical framework. A total of five banks were studied and their employees constituted the population of the study. A sample size of 386 using Borg and Gall (1973) statistical. The data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis. The hypotheses formulated were tested using multiple regression analysis. The result of the Pearson correlation analysis shows that workload pressure, role conflict and family stress has a negative correlation with employee productivity. The study found that workload pressure, family stress and role conflict have significant effect on employee productivity. Job security was found to have no significant effect on employee productivity.  The study therefore concludes that workplace stress has a significant negative effect on employee productivity in commercial banks in South-East Nigeria. The study recommends that Banks should put in effective stress management strategy that will reduce workload stress, role conflict and family related stress so as to improve the productivity of their employees.