International Journal of Human Resource

Management and Research (IJHRMR)

ISSN(P): 2249-6874; ISSN(E): 2249-7986
Vol. 5, Issue 3, Jun 2015, 25-32
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

WORKPLACE STRESS AND STRESS MANAGEMENT AMONG EMPLOYEES

WORKING IN PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS OF NORTH GUJARAT
MANISHA A. PATEL
Assistant Professor, Golden Jubilee Institute of Business Administration, Sidhpur, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT
Corporate world is becoming very competitive. Stress at workplace can be a real problem to the organization as
well as for its employees. It may be create health related issues among employees. These issues slowly start convert in
frustration which may be further result in lack of interest in work at workplace and poor job performance. So it is
becoming key consideration for any organization to encounter the stress among employees at workplace and
implementation of stress management activities. This descriptive research study is the small step in the direction to
determine the workplace stress among 100 employees working in different private organization of North Gujarat. This
study found some major stressors which causes stress among employees at workplace. They are over burden of workload,
unfavorable working conditions, and lack of proper reward system. When employees work under this type of stress, they
meet with different problems like headache, blood pressure, anger, anxiety, frustration, lack of concentration, forgetfulness,
etc. Employees were trying for stress buster activities at workplace sometimes only while very few employees found who
always involved themselves in stress buster activities. There were employees who never trying for that and ignore stress.
There was no statistical relationship found between age, gender, salary earned and types of stress experience. Management
of the organizations should try to provide a healthy environment in which employee can perform their job without any
stress.HR department should involved employees in professional stress management activities.

KEYWORDS: Stress, Workplace, Employees, Health, Job Performance, Stress Management Activities
INTRODUCTION
Modern life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations and demands. Small amount of stress is good as it motivate
people to perform under pressure and do their best. But when it crosses the limit, the mind and body both have to pay for
that. They start reacting by giving different signs and symptoms of stress. Anything that poses a challenge or a threat to our
well-being is a stress. Stress is a normal physical response to events that make people feel threatened or upset their balance
in some way.
Stress can hit anyone at any level of the business. Workplace related stress is widespread and is not confined to
particular sectors, jobs or industries. Work related stress is: "The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or
other types of demand placed on them at work." Workplace related stress develops because employees are unable to cope
with the demands being placed on them. This workplace stress can be a significant cause of illness and is known to be
linked with high levels of sickness absence, staff turnover and other issues such as more errors.

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Manisha A. Patel

Causes of Workplace Stress

A stressor is a chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, external stimulus or an event that causes
stress to an organism. Workplace stress is the response people may have when presented with work demands and pressures
that are not matched to their knowledge and abilities and which challenge their ability to cope. Stress occurs in a wide
range of work circumstances but is often made worse when employees feel they have little support from supervisors and
colleagues, as well as little control over work processes.
There are some common stressors at workplace which causes stress among employees like;

Heavy workload, long work hours, infrequent breaks, routine tasks, not enough time to complete a job.

Little participation in making decisions, little control over the finished product, poor communication, lack of
family-friendly policies, little recognition for good job performance.

Poor social environment and lack of support from co-workers or supervisors; prejudice or discrimination because
of race, religion, gender or age.

Conflicting or uncertain job expectations, too much responsibility, too many bosses.

Job insecurity; lack of opportunity for growth, advancement or promotion.

Unpleasant or dangerous physical conditions such as crowding, noise, air pollution, ergonomic issues and fear of
exposure to toxic chemicals.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To determine the causes and effects of workplace stress experienced by employees.

To determine the workplace stress management strategies used by employees.

To determine relationship between demographics characteristics and workplace stress.

Hypotheses
H01: There is no statistically significant relationship between age of employees and the effect of workplace stress
experienced.
H02: There is no statistically significant relationship between gender of employees and the effect of workplace
stress experienced.
H03: There is no statistically significant relationship between designation of employees and the effect of
workplace stress experienced.
H04: There is no statistically significant relationship between salaries earned and the effect of workplace stress
experienced.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
The descriptive survey design was conducted to carry out the study in 23 different private organizations in North

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.2129

NAAS Rating: 3.25

27

Workplace Stress and Stress Management among Employees

Working in Private Organizations of North Gujarat

Gujarat which includes companies, factories, consultancy firms, colleges, banks. 130 questionnaires were distributed to
respondents and 109 questionnaires received complete in all aspects. 100 questioners used to analyze the data. Research
was carried out from January, 2015 to April, 2015
Target Population
Employees working in different private organizations at Mehsana, Patan and Banaskantha districts of North
Gujarat. Sample size is 100 and Sampling Method is Simple Random Sampling
Data Collection Instruments
Secondary data were gathered by books, news articles, internet, magazines and related research papers.
Primary data were collected directly from employees with help of structure and close ended questionnaire.
Percentage analysis and Chi-Square [X] test analysis with help of SPSS and Microsoft Excel.

RESULT INTEREPRETATION
Table 1 is representing social demographics data of respondents like age, gender, job designation and salary of the
employees. We can see that employees are from all age groups. 30% of them are between 31 to 40 years and also 29% are
between 41to 50 years of age. Generally these age groups have more responsibilities at work and in family both. 21% are
between 21 to 30 years, while 20% of the respondents are between the age group of 51 to 60 years.
Purposefully more focus was given to female employees for study, as women are more likely than men to
experience stress. So here 58% respondents are female while 42% are male.
Table 1: Social Demographic Data of Employees
Demographic Data
Age

Gender

Designation

Monthly Salary

Variable
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
Male
Female
Head of the Department
Manager
Supervisor
Executive
College Teacher
Accountant
Clerk
<15000
15000-24000
25000-34000
35000-44000
45000-54000
55000 and above

Frequency[N=100]
21
30
29
20
42
58
04
06
14
12
18
16
30
39
24
19
15
02
01

Percentage[%]
21.00
30.00
29.00
20.00
41.00
58.00
04.00
06.00
14.00
12.00
18.00
16.00
30.00
39.00
24.00
19.00
15.00
02.00
01.00

Source: Primary Data

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Manisha A. Patel

Considering their designation, majority of the employees are clerks with 30% while 16% employees are
accountants. These employees are at bottom level so maybe they have to accept orders from more than one boss. With keep
in mind the importance of healthy education in society here some college teachers were also included as respondents.
They represent 18% while 12% employees are doing job as executives. Here 14% employees are supervisors. 6% are
managers and 4% are head of the department, means total 10% employees are at top level who have responsibilities to
make their department efficient.
Data represent employees monthly salary in rupees. 39% employees are earning less than 15000, while 24% are
earning in between 15000 to 24000. That means majority of the employee are earning less than 25000 which is essential to
survive in current need base materialistic world. 19% employees having salary up to 34000 while 15% have up to 44000
which we can say satisfactory. Total 3% employees have high salary.
Table 2 is representing data about reasons or causes which make employees feel stress. These factors also known
as stressor. We can see that 83% employees were in stress because lack of incentives for their overtime duties and 83%
employees experienced stress because they have to handle multitasking at workplace alone. 71% felt that they have short
break time to relax themselves. This clearly shows that employees have over burden of workload.
Table 2: Causes of Stress Experienced By Employees
Causes of Stress
Difficult Tasks
Aggressive Boss
Working with Incompetent Staff
Poor salary
Short break period time
No incentives for over time
Handling multitasking alone
Job insecurity
Lack of promotion
Unfriendly relationship with other
employees
Source: Primary Data

Responses
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No

Frequency
[N=100]
67
33
64
36
33
67
82
18
71
29
83
67
83
67
73
27
79
21
28
72

Percentage
67.00
33.00
64.00
36.00
33.00
67.00
82.00
18.00
71.00
29.00
83.00
67.00
83.00
67.00
73.00
27.00
79.00
21.00
28.00
72.00

Further 82% employees experienced stress because of poor salary and 79% because lack of promotion.
This shows that employees were in stress and dissatisfied because there was no proper reward system to motivate them for
their work. We can also see that 67% employees got stress because they have to perform difficult tasks in their jobs and
64% agreed that aggressive nature of boss made them feel stress. This shows working condition at work place is one of the
factors responsible for stress among employees.

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.2129

NAAS Rating: 3.25

29

Workplace Stress and Stress Management among Employees

Working in Private Organizations of North Gujarat

Here we can see one very interesting result that generally employees had good relationship with other employees.
Because results show that, only 28% employees got stress because of unhealthy relationship with other employees while
only 33% got stress because they have to work with incompetent staff.
Table 3: Effects of Stress among Employees
Effects of Stress

Responses

Headache
Blood Pressure
Increase or Decrease
Physical
Ulcer
Fatigue
Insomnia
Anger
Anxiety
Frustration
Emotional
Over Reaction
Compulsive Behavior
Lack of Concentration
Forgetfulness
Withdrawal
Psychological
Unknown Fear
Partial Memory Loss
Source: Primary Data

Frequency
[N=100]
41

Percentage[%]
41.00

34

34.00

11
08
06
47
23
14
12
04
45
33
06
04
02

11.00
08.00
06.00
47.00
23.00
14.00
12.00
04.00
45.00
33.00
06.00
04.00
02.00

Table 3 shows the different adverse effects of stress on Physical, Emotional and Psychological health of
employees. Stress resulting in different problems like headache, blood pressure, anger, anxiety, frustration, lack of
concentration, forgetfulness, etc.
As first pace we feel that all these effects are common but in reality they are slowly creating big problem. Because
all these factors badly affects performance qualities and human relationships.
Table 4: Use of Stress Management Strategies at Workplace by Employees
Workplace Stress Management
Strategies
Positive use of Break Time

Relaxation

Meditation

Exercise

Responses
Never
Sometimes
Always
Never
Sometimes
Always
Never
Sometimes
Always
Never
Sometimes
Always

Frequency
[N=100]
27
63
10
15
60
25
20
66
14
19
68
13

Percentage
[%]
27.00
63.00
10.00
15.00
60.00
25.00
20.00
66.00
14.00
19.00
68.00
13.00

Source: Primary Data

Table 4 representing different stress management strategies that can be used by employees to reduce the level of
stress they experienced. Most of the employees were used stress buster activities only sometimes, while many employees

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Manisha A. Patel

never tried these very useful stress management activities like meditation, relaxation, exercise and positive use of break
time.
Only few employees were taking care of their stress by using these stress management activities. Here top
management and HR departments of the organization should need to implement all these very useful stress management
strategies in professional on the job stress management sessions at organization.
Hypotheses Testing
H01: There is no statistically significant relationship between age of employees and the effect of workplace stress
experienced.
As shown in Table 5, we can see P > 0.05 for Physical, Emotional and Psychological type of stress. Null
hypothesis accepted. So it means no particular age group has experienced any particular stress. It suggests that different
types of workplace stress arise at any age.
Table 5: Relationship between Some Socio Demographics Data and Stress Experienced
Pearson Chi Square
Test [X]
X
P value
Age
Remark
X
P value
Gender
Remark
X
Designation P value
Remark
X
P value
Salary
Remark
Source: Primary Data
Variable

Type of Stress Experienced

Physical
Emotional Psychological
0.93
0.44
0.98
> 0.05
> 0.05
> 0.05
No Relation No Relation
No Relation
0.51
0.28
0.18
> 0.05
> 0.05
> 0.05
No Relation No Relation
No Relation
0.27
0.02
0.34
> 0.05
< 0.05
> 0.05
No Relation
Relation
No Relation
0.96
0.93
0.61
> 0.05
> 0.05
> 0.05
No Relation No Relation
No Relation

H02: There is no statistically significant relationship between gender of employees and the effect of workplace stress
experienced.
As shown in Table 5, we can see P > 0.05 for Physical, Emotional and Psychological type of stress. Null
hypothesis accepted. It means stress experienced by employees at workplace is free from gender. Generally it believed that
women are experienced more stress than men. But here result is very clear that female and male both experience Physical,
Emotional and Psychological type of stress.
H03: There is no statistically significant relationship between designation of employees and the effect of workplace
stress experienced.
As shown in Table 5, P > 0.05 for Physical and Psychological stress so here null hypothesis accepted for only
these two types of stress. But for Emotional stress, P < 0.05, so null hypothesis is rejected. It reveals that emotional types
of stress like anger, anxiety, and frustration may be depend on employees position in organization.

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.2129

NAAS Rating: 3.25

31

Workplace Stress and Stress Management among Employees

Working in Private Organizations of North Gujarat

H04: There is no statistically significant relationship between salaries earned and the effect of workplace stress
experienced.
As shown in Table 5, we can see P > 0.05 for Physical, Emotional and Psychological type of stress.
Null hypothesis accepted. It means stress experienced by employees not depended on salary earned by them. It suggests
high earning is not solution of workplace stress. Stress arises from different factors.

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

Stress is slow poison which affects people in different and many ways. Workplace stress arises from different
factors and it caucuses various Physical, emotional and psychological problems. It they are not faced carefully then they
will cause serious health problem, poor work performance and conflicts in professional and social life.
This study found some major stressors which causes stress among employees at workplace. They are over burden
of workload, unfavorable working conditions, and lack of proper reward system. When employees work under this type of
stress, they meet with different problems like headache, blood pressure, anger, anxiety, frustration, lack of concentration,
forgetfulness, etc.
Workplace stress can be managed by different strategies like meditation, exercise, relaxation and positive use of
break time. This study found very few employees are using these stress buster activities. It is suggested that top level
management with HR manager should need to implement on job professional sessions for employees to reduce stress.
Further, No relationship found between age, gender, designation and salary of employees with types of stress experienced.
Means stress becoming common at workplaces.
The research is a small step in understanding workplace stress among employees of private organization at
Mehsana, Patan and Banaskantha districts of North Gujarat. Therefore the results of this study cannot be generalized.
However, this study provides an opportunity for the researchers to use larger sample size and arrive at generalization. It
also provides opportunity for employees and employers to build stress management strategies.

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Aswathappa. K. (2008). Human Resource Management, New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill

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