The Impact of Occupational Stress on Employee’s Performance: A Study at Twifo Oil Palm Plantation Limited

Abstract

Stress has a significant negative impact on employee’s physical, emotional, behavioural and economic wellbeing. It has other implications on organizations as a whole as employees are exposed to diseases like hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and depression. Stress leads to increased risk of depression, intentions to quit, turnover, low productivity and in some extreme cases, death. The main objective of the study was to identify the prevalence of occupational stress, causes of stress, its impact on employee performance, and measures Management can put in place to eradicate or minimize work-related stress. The study employed the survey research design, and quantitative approach. The targeted population was only regular workers which constitute (N= 282). Simple random sampling was used to select respondents who provided information for the data collected.  The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression models. The major findings were that: employees at Twifo Oil Palm Plantation exhibit more physical and emotional stress.  The main causes of stress were found to be: job conditions, interpersonal relations, and career advancement. Due to the impact of stress on job performance, the Management adopts payment of medical bills, provision of counselling services, and establishment of communication channels to manage stress problems.  Based on the findings, the study recommended the following: Management should match individual educational, skills, experience, competence, ability and capabilities with the tasks, provide medical assistance, provide extensive counselling services, establish better conditions of service, improve interpersonal relations, fix flexible work schedules, and operate an open - door communication policy for grievance resolutions.