The impact of stress on productivity of employees at the education training and development practices : sector education and training authority

Abstract

The goal of the study was to investigate the impact of stress on productivity of employees at the Education Training and Development Practices: Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA). According to Dean (2002:38), stress-related illnesses have been a leading cause for low productivity levels in the workplace. Immense pressure at work has led to stress, which makes it the number one factor that has lead to illness. For this study applied research was utilised, as its main goal was directed towards shedding light in as far as the impact of stress on productivity in the organisation was concerned. Thus the study helped to elucidate descriptive information on the impact of stress on employees at the ETDP SETA, and gave specific details about the phenomena in question. Research was conducted within the framework of a survey. No sampling was done, as the total population was very small. The respondents in this study were the 51 employees at the ETDP SETA who were employed during the commencement of the study. Questionnaires were designed and distributed by delegates, of the Head of Division Human Resources to all the sections at the ETDP SETA. From the results obtained it was evident that there were many stress factors that the employees at the ETDP SETA endured, and the enquiry proved that the impact of stress affected productivity negatively. The fact that the majority of the employees thought that the organisation did not care about them was a reflection of huge dissatisfaction that undoubtedly lowered productivity.