Workplace Stressors and Organizational Performancein Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Organizational Policy

Abstract

This study investigated the moderating role of organizational policy between workplace stressors and organizational performance with evidence from consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The survey design was adopted and the questionnaire was the major instrument of data collection administered to three hundred and sixty-seven(367) employees of two (2) consumer goods companies. Three (3) workplace stressors (workload, role ambiguity and role conflict), moderating (organizational policy) and organizational performance (quality of products) dimensions were employed.  Data obtained in the field survey were analyzed via descriptive (Cronbach Alpha, Mean, Standard Deviation and Correlation) and inferential (Structural Equation Modeling) statistical techniques. Findings indicated that while workplace stressors of workload and role ambiguity significantly and positively affect organizational performance, however, role conflict insignificantly affects the performance of the organization. Again, the organizational policy was found to moderate the link between workplace stressors and organizational performance. Given the findings, the study recommends that employee stress audits need to be conducted regularly to determine whether stress levels are getting out of control and leading to chronic stress, which affects organizational performance.  There is a need for organizations to engage in Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to checkmate workloads and role conflict now and in other future cases; EAP can be applied not only by Nigeria organizations but on a global scale.