ABSTRACT
The study investigates the influence of work schedule and occupational stress on employee job satisfaction in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. Employees occupational stress is due to unpleasant emotional situation that an individual experiences when the requirements of job are not counter balanced with his ability to cope the situation. This affects the employee’s job satisfaction. The study adopts descriptive research approach. So as to achieve the objectives of this study, information was gathered from four public organization (Technique and vocational administrative office, Health science collage, Revenue office and Hospital), through self administered questionnaire from a sample of 192 public organization employees. The study was adopts both probability and non-probability sampling method. The data collected from the questionnaire were processed by using SPSS 16.0 version and analyzed by using descriptive statistical tools such as mean and standard deviation. The mean rank of Friedman was used to rank the factors contributing for occupational stress, and the Pierson correlation was used see the relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction. The study finding indicate that causes of occupational stress significantly were working environment, inflexibility at work, , personal issue factor, lack of financial resource, and management systems. In addition the finding shows there is less job satisfaction in the case study due to limited work promotion, unfair salary lack of confidence in management, lack of employees work relationship, limited learning opportunities, and un-advancement in job. Then the correlation analysis, employees are facing occupational stresses that have caused less job satisfaction it indicates negative relationship.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the study
Job satisfaction is the most widely researched job attitude and among the most extensively researched subjects in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology (Judge & Church, 2000). It has been linked to productivity, motivation, absenteeism/tardiness, accidents, mental/physical health, and general life satisfaction (Landy, 1978, Wegge, Schmidt, Parkes & Van Dick, 2007). Job satisfaction is considered as one of the most important construct in I/O Psychology because of its role to understanding of many activities that takes place in the work environment. It is an extent to which an individual or worker performs his/her work effectively. Other factors that affect job satisfaction are work schedule and occupational stress, which form the basis for this study.
According to Kerber & Campbell (1987), measurement of job satisfaction helps identify specific aspects of a job that require improvement. Employee job satisfaction is a central attention in the researches and discussions in work and organizational psychology. It is opined that a happy employee is productive and vice versa (Syptak, Marsland & Ulmer, 1999). In reality, employees are more satisfied when they enjoy the environment in which they work. The extent to which an employee is satisfied with his/her work determines the growth or collapse of the organization where he/she works (Thompson & Phua, 2012).
However, organizations tend to focus more on predicting employees’ job performance rather than its satisfaction. In recent times, research has been conducted on employees’ job satisfaction unlike its initial state where it was being ignored. Locke (1976) described job satisfaction as a pleasurable or positive emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one’s job or job experiences. Most organizations in African countries (Nigeria especially) seems to ignore the important of their employees’ job satisfaction but focuses more on the organizations’ productivity and sales increase.
Job characteristics approach research has revealed that the nature of an individual’s job or the characteristics of the organization predominantly determines job satisfaction. According to Hackman & Oldham (1980), a job characteristic is an aspect of a job that generates ideal conditions for high levels of motivation, satisfaction, and performance. A common premise in research of the effects of job circumstances on job satisfaction by comparing the current receivables from the job with what they believe they should receive, Jex (2002). For example, if an employee receiving an annual salary of #5,000,000 believes that he/she should be receiving a salary of #3,500,000, then he or she will experience satisfaction; however, if the employee believes that he or she should be receiving #9,000,000, then he or she will feel dissatisfied.
According to Locke (1976, Saari & Judge, 2004), this process becomes even more complex since the importance of work schedule differs as per individual perception. For example, one employee may feel that pay rate is extremely important while another may feel that social relationships are more important. Consequently, this leads to individual’s level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction when expectations are met or not.
Based on social information process, Jex (2002) explains that during social information processing, employees look to co-workers to make sense of and develop attitudes about their work environment. In other words, if employees find their co-workers positive and satisfied then they will most likely be satisfied; however, if their co-workers are negative and dissatisfied then the employee will most likely be dissatisfied.
Thirdly, dispositional (work characteristics) depicts that internal disposition is the crux of the latest method of explaining job satisfaction which hints some people being inclined to be satisfied or dissatisfied with their work irrespective of the nature of the job or the organizational environment (Jex, 2002).
Shift work occurs in a work schedule that necessitates 24 hours a day and occasionally, 7 days a week, to keep an organization operating without a hitch. Shift work occurs whenever 24-hour coverage is necessary or when a 24-hour day is needed to optimize work output and productivity. There are many approaches to shift work. For example, an employee may work 8 hours during a day that consists of three 8-hour shifts. Or, an employee may work twelve hours a day for 4 straight days and then be off the next 4 days. Employers have experimented with every conceivable form of shift work in an effort to maximize the potential of their operation while also considering how to minimize any ill effects on their workers (Schultz, Duane & Ellen, 2010). Those working the night shift, in particular, are susceptible to debilitating health effects due to lack of sick and poor eating habits.
Shift work, in which an employee works the same shift consistently, is always better for employee to create a fulfilling lifestyle and home life. Conversely, constantly changing shifts disrupts one’s life patterns. Here in Nigeria, not all the employees in different organizations do perform the usual 8am – 4pm – five days – a week. Nurses, pharmacists, military personnel’s, fire fighters, prison warders among others, do provide 24-hours – a - day service. Muchinsky (1997), posits that in industrial manufacturing companies, some technologies/machine require constant monitoring and operation. Hence, it becomes rational and practical to run these machines continually by having different shift work systems round the clock. He notes further that there are no uniform shift hours, as various companies adopt different shifts.
Usually for nurses, a 24-hour-a-day is broken into three 8-hour- work shifts as follows:
i. 7am to 2pm (day shift):
ii. 2pm to 10pm (swing or afternoon shift)’’ and
iii. 10pm to 7am (night shift).
Muchinsky finally observes that some companies have employees run only one shift, more so, as workers generally do not like the afternoon and night shift. Consequently, many firms and organizations do rotate the shift on weekly basis so as to carry all the workers along. Psychologists in industrial settings did and still do investigate the degree to which workers’ job satisfactions are affected by the shift work, and their abilities to cope with these changes in work schedules, Muchinsky (1988).
Since it is the duty of hospital workers to ensure that the health condition of the citizens here in Nigeria is well taken care of, the hospital workers had since adopted three shift work schedules covering from Sunday to Saturday of every week. In order to cover all these duties and safeguard the lives of the citizens effectively, the shift work schedule in this organization is as follows:
(a) Morning shift, from 0600 hrs to 1400 hours;
(b) Afternoon shift, 1400 to 2200 hours; and
(c) Night shift. 2200 hours to 0600 hours.
It should be noted at this juncture that the first workers to be initiated to this routine were not hospital workers, or even military personnel’s, but bakers. Industrialization and global warfare brought shift work into the mainstream (Aveni, 1999). In other words, estimates are that more than 25% of all workers in the U.S. and Europe are now shift workers.
This study investigates whether the hospital workers actually do have job satisfactions on their job; and/or experience stress in their day to day hassles while working these shifts. Aschoff (1978), in his work posits that shift workers experience many problems ranging from physiological to social adjustments; stressing that most physiological problems are associated with interruptions of the circadian rhythm or internal biological clock; that is to say, our bodies are “programmed” for a certain time cycle. Hence, shift works have been observed to interrupt the cycles of eating, sleeping and working hours; and workers on this shift therefore, tend to experience physiological problems.
In actual fact, the hospital workers on these shift works are mostly those on the lower ranks in the health sector. These are the nurses, social health workers, etc.; who constitute the life wire of the work. These groups of people are those mostly running the shift work systems; and are equally seen on the field from time to time. These are the same group of hospital workers seen by the general public either in their course of attending, treating of patients, and/or probably, while carrying out their health duties. 1.2 Statement of the problem
Stress at work can be a real problem to the organization as well as for its workers. Congested work schedule and occupational stress is thought to affect individuals’ psychological and physical health, as well as organizations’ effectiveness, in an adverse manner.
Workers who are stressed are also more likely to be unhealthy, poorly motivated, less productive and less safe at work, which brought less job satisfaction. The study by Frank M. Gryna , (2004) suggests stress is one of the factor that affect the organization productivity either in public and private organization.
Stress can be brought about by pressures at home and at work. According to, Chan et al., (2000) the ultimate results of this pressure have been found to one of the important factors influencing job stress in their work. Rapidly changing global scene is increasing the pressure of workforce to perform maximum output and enhance competitiveness. Indeed, to perform better to their job, there is a requirement for workers to perform multiple tasks in the workplace to keep abreast of changing technologies (Cascio, 1995; Quick, 1999).
However, no more study conducted at the case study level reference to factors of job stress on public employee’s job satisfaction. Study by Mulu (2012) conducted study on effects of work overload on job satisfaction in case of five public organization office found in Uyo, and evidences work overload, lack of financial reward, and management system problems are caused work tress that affects employee’s job satisfaction.
In line to the above stated problem the researcher assessed occupational stress resulted from work environment, lack of financial reward, personal issue, management problem and inflexibility at work. Hence, the study looks such factors to fill the study research gap of occupational stress factors on public organization employee’s job satisfaction
1.3 Research question
The following research questions are addressed, in line with the above stated problem statement. These are :
1. What are the causes of job stress in public organization case of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital?
2. What are the effects of job stress on employees’ job satisfaction in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital?
3. What could be the magnitude job stress on a public organization employees job
Satisfaction?
4. What are the major to be taken to reduce occupational stress and improve job satisfaction?
1.4 Objectives of the study
The following general and specific objectives are set for the study.
General Objectives:
Ø To assess indicating factors toward job stress on employees job satisfaction of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.
Specific objectives:
Ø To investigate working environment stress toward job satisfaction.
Ø To identify how Inflexibility in occupational stress influence workers job satisfaction.
Ø To assess whether job stress limits job satisfaction due to Lack of financial rewards
Ø To identify how job stress limits the interactions of workers with colleagues to prompt Personal issues
Ø To look management system stress at specifications regarding job satisfaction.
Ø To offer suggestion, on the basis of the study results, ways and means for reduce occupational stress and improving Job satisfaction on the employee and more effective and efficient.
1.5 Significance of the study
The current study come up with good and relevant finding about job stress and employee job satisfaction of the study area. Primarily, the results of this study benefits to the selected organizations in particular and governmental organizations in general; that makes to understand the state of occupational stress and its effect on employee satisfaction. It helps the organizations to take corrective measures. Furthermore, it will be used as reference for other researchers who are interested to conduct study related to this problem.
1.6 Scope of the study
The scope of this study focus on the effect of work schedule and occupational stress on employee job satisfaction in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
1.7 Limitation of the study
The study was only conducted in four public service enterprises which limits the genralibility of the research findings. Another limitation was lack of recent and relevant literature on the topic, especially at the case study level. Finally financial and time limitation constrained to conduct a comprehensive and detail study by taking large sample and remaining explanatory variables. In spite of these short comings, however, it was attempted to make the study as complete as possible.
1.8 Organization of the study
The studies have five chapters. The first chapter is an introduction which consists of background of the study, statement of the problem, research question, objectives, significance, scope and limitation of the study. The second chapter presented review of related literature. Chapter three presented research methodology. The fourth chapter presents the data presentation and analysis finally chapter five contains summary of results, concluding remarks and recommendations.
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Item Type: Project Material | Size: 71 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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