Employees’ Perceptions of the Causes, Consequences and Moderators of Occupational Stress at Ethiopia Commodity Exchange
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Date
2021-12
Authors
Merkebe, Fasika
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AAU
Abstract
Occupational stress adversely affects the physiological, behavioural and psychological
wellbeing of employees that hampers their efficiency, capability and productivity that also
affect the organization’s growth and development directly or indirectly. Hence, organizations
shall give due attention to manage and reduce distressful work environment to ensure
consistent and sustainable growth and development. The objective of this study is to examine
employees’ perception about the sources, consequences and moderators of stress at Ethiopia
Commodity Exchange. The study also examined the presence or absence of statistical
significant difference due to employees’ selected demographic differences. The study adopted
mixed approach by using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. The relevant data
were collected from the sampled employees using survey questionnaire, FGD and Interview.
The sample of the population was determined using Cochran’s sample size formula used for
known population and 282 employees drown for quantitative data collection of which 60%
from Head Quarter and 40% from Upcountry Branch Offices using stratified and random
sampling techniques and 95% timely responded. For FGD and interview purposive and
convenient sampling techniques were used. Various relevant research works, literatures,
stress models, survey reports were consulted to get the full insight and support the study. The
collected data from survey questionnaire were analysed using SPSS version 21 and
frequency, percentage, mean, independent sample T test, One Way ANOVA and post hoc Games-Howell tests were applied. Besides, the data obtained through FGD and interview
were transcribed and analysed in light of the study objectives. The findings of the study
demonstrated that occupational stress were experienced by all, though the degree might
differ with majority fall under moderate level. Statistical significant differences were
observed at mean difference of 0.05 level with regard to gender, age, work experience,
educational level, job positions and supervisory responsibility differences among respondents
groups and the null hypothesis rejected. The study revealed that frustration, demotivation,
job insecurity, poor time management, gross negligence and malpractices, increased
turnover and intentions to look outside were sensed by majority of the respondents. The after
effect of the occupational stress on employees were directly and/or indirectly affected the
efficiency and survival of the institute unless timely curbed. It was found out that the main
sources of stressors were external factors dominated that mainly incorporates the presence of
diverse and over-demanding market actors with conflicting interests, policy circle and
regulatory bodies, unstable and conflicting interest on the sector, over-interference and
imposition of stage driven vicious quick fix reforms without considering the overall effect on
the system, media campaign and sabotage that defame the image of the institute and labelling
etc. The study also identified organizational factors mainly seasonal work-overload, effort reward imbalances, person-environment-fitness concern, demanding but low level-control
and support particularly from the policy circle and regulatory bodies, absence of strong
research wing, reactive responses to customers feedbacks and concerns and taking the
government protection for granted and engaged in transactional daily routines. The study
recommends all parties i.e. the policy circle, regulatory bodies, government offices, the
leadership team including the Board of Directors, all the staffs, market actors associations
and market actors advised to pay due attention and play their collective and independent
roles to address the current challenges faced by the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange and
manage staff tensions and mental strains. This will benefits all the individual staff, the
organization, the market actors the government and the public at large.
Description
Keywords
Stress, Occupational Stress, Moderators, Stress, Occupational Stress, Moderators