OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND JOB SATISFACTION IN THE BANKING SECTOR
ABSTRACT
The major concern of this study was to examine the prevalence of occupational stress in the banking sector. Also, its impact on the level of job satisfaction of bank employees was investigated. To this end, convenience sampling method was adopted to administer 200 copies of the questionnaire to employees of commercial banks within Ugbowo area of Benin City, Edo State.
It was discovered that occupational stress is quite high in the banking sector as evidenced by the result of the data collated. Also, it was observed to have a significant and negative relationship with job satisfaction. The author recommended that the management of banks should endeavour to create a stress-free environment in order to promote productivity for their employees. He also recommended that employees should learn new ways to reduce their stress level in order to avoid the hazards of occupational stress.
                TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study    -    -    -    
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem    -    -
1.3 Research Question    -    -    -    -
1.4 Objective   of   the Study    -    -
1.5 Significance of the Study    -    -    
1.6 Scope of the Study    -    -    
1.7 Limitation of the Study    -
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction    -    -    -    -
2.2 Definition of Job Satisfaction    -    -    -    
2.2.1    Theories of Job Satisfaction    -    -    
2.2.2    Porter and Lawler’s Expectancy Model of Job Satisfaction    -    
2.2.3    Measuring Job Satisfaction    -    -
2.2.4    Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction    -    -
2.2.5    Implications of Job Satisfaction    -
2.3     Stress    -    -    -    -    -    -
2.3.1    Sources of stress    -    -    
2.3.2    Stress Reactions    -    -    -    -
2.3.3    Stress and Personality    -    -    -
2.3.4    Theories of Stress    -    -    -    -
2.3.5    Occupational Stress    -    -    
2.3.6    Causes of Occupational Stress    -    -    
2.3.7    Occupational Stress Indicators    -    
2.4      Review of Studies on Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction    
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1    Introduction    -    -    -    -    
3.2    Research Design    -    -    -    -
3.3    The Population and Sampling -    -
3.4    Operationalization and Measurement of Variables    -
3.5     Research Instrument    -    -    -
3.6     Sources of Data    -    -    -
3.7 Methods of Data Analysis    -    -
CHAPTER FOUR:DATA  PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND PRESENATION
4.1     Introduction    -    -    -    -    -
4.2    Profile of Respondents    -    -    -
4.3    Prevalence of Stress among Workers in Commercial Banks    -    
4.4    Perceived Causes of Occupational Stress    -
4.5    Occupational Stress Indicators    -    -    
4.6    Job Satisfaction among Workers in Public Institutions    -
4.7    Relationship between Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction    
4.8    Discussion of findings    -    -    -    
CHAPTER  FIVE:    SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION    AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1     Introduction    -    -    -    -    
5.2     Summary of Findings    -    -    -    -
5.3    Conclusions    -    -    -    -    -    -
5.4    Recommendations    -    -    -    -
5.4.1    Policy Recommendations/Implication    -    -    -    
5.4.2    Further Studies    -    -    -    -    -    -
BIBILOGRAPHY    -    -    -    -    -
APPENDIX I    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
LIST OF TABLES
Table 3.1 Administration of Questionnaire    -    -    -    
Table 4.1 Respondents’ demographic information    -    -    
Table 4.2 Role ambiguity    -    -    -    -    -
Table 4.3 Work load    -    -    -    -    -    -    
Table 4.4 Performance Pressure    -    -    
Table 4.5 Relationship with Others-    -    
Table 4.6 Home Work Interface    -    -    
Table 4.7 Occupational stressors    -    -    -    -    
Table 4.8 Dimensions of occupational stress indicators    -    
Table 4.9 Dimensions of job satisfaction    -    -
Table 4.5 Pearson Correlation Matrix    -
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
    Job satisfaction is defined as all the feelings that an individual has about his/her job (Sowmya&Panchanatham, 2011). The term jobsatisfaction is often associated with increased output, efficiency of the organization, loyalty to the organization, and reduced absenteeism and earnings (Wright & Davis, 2003 as cited in Karshan, 2015), the opposite could potentially lead to turnover intentions, increasing costs, decreasing profits and ultimately customer dissatisfaction with the organization (Hulin& Judge, 2003).Over the years, wages has been discovered to be the most important determinant of job satisfaction  (Dupre& Day, 2007). Similarly, promotion,recognition of work, and employer loyalty arealso considered important (Azman, Amy & Nek, 2009).
It is worthy of mention at this point that job satisfaction is an attitude or emotional response to work task as well as to the physical and social conditions of the work place. Thus, as opined by Jagtap and Yadav (2014), occupational stress is one of the conditions which may affect the job satisfaction of an employee.
Stress is a multi-dimensional concept and may be defined based onlanguage and organizational perspectives (Azman, Amy & Nek, 2009). In terms of language, it isoriginally derived from the Latin word;stringere, which refers todraw tight, to describe hardships and/or affliction (Cartwright &Cooper, 1997 as cited in Azman, Amy & Nek, 2007). The condition of stress often occurs when individuals’ physical and emotionalresilience do not match or cannot handle their job demands, constraintsand/or opportunities (Ugoji, 2003). For organizational employees, the sources of occupational stress could include any of the following; heavy workload, time pressure, poor working environment, time pressure, lack of recognition for work, delayed salaries, etc (Karshan, 2015).Occupational stress has been of great concern to employees and (Hulin& Judge, 2003) and other stakeholders of organizations(Azman, Amy & Nek, 2009). Researchers generally agree that occupational stress is a serious problem in many organizations (Cooper and Carturight, 1994; Varca, 1999; Ornelas&Kleiner, 2003). The cost of occupational stress is very high in many organizations in recent times. For instance, the International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that inefficiencies arising from occupational stress may cost up to 10 percent of a country’s gross national product (GNP) (Midgley, 1996).
Banks plays a vital role in the country's economy. In fact, the banking sectors has witnessed various alterations and policy modifications which have revolutionalized the present day banking scenario (Karshan, 2015), particularly in Nigeria (Ugoji, 2003). These modifications have laid strong foundation for the current level of improvised banking solutions globally (Karshan, 2015). Thus, like in every other organization, employees in the banking sector are now facing increasing pressure to be more effective at work. In the author’s opinion, the achievement of a higher level of effectiveness renders imperative the need to tackle the causal factors of conditions that may ultimately result in occupational stress. Against this background, this study sets out to investigate the extent to which occupational stress is prevalent among workers in the banking sector, its causal factors and its influence on job satisfaction.
1.2 Statement of Research Problem
    The impact of occupational stress on job satisfaction has previously being examined in various businesses and social sectors across the world by various scholars such as Landbergies (1988), Ornelas and Kleiner (2003), Parrilla (2012),Karshan (2015) and even within the Nigerian context such as Ugoji (2003), Ekundayo (2014) among others. They have critically researched and shown that although pay is the most important determinant of job satisfaction (Karshan, 2015) occupational stress is also one of the most influential factors that affects job dissatisfaction among employees in various organizations (Ugoji, 2003; Ekundayo, 2014). A cause and effect relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction in manufacturing organizations and public institutions has been examined. However, the banking sector relative to aforementioned sectors has received little attention as opined by Ekundayo (2014).
     To the best of the author’s knowledge, few studies have explored the influence of occupational stress on job satisfaction among workers in the banking sector. Thus, this study focuses on investigating the extent to which occupational stress is prevalent among workers in the banking sector and how it affects their job satisfaction by studying Zennith Bank Plc.
1.3 Research Questions
    In the light of the above mentioned research problem, this study will attempt to provide answers to the following research questions:
Is stress prevalent among workers in the Nigerian banking sector?
What is the level of job satisfaction experienced by employees in the Nigerian banking sector?
What is the relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction among workers in the Nigerian banking sector?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
    The specific objectives of this study are:
To determine the extent to which stress is prevalent among workers in the Nigerian banking sector.
To ascertain the level of job satisfaction experienced by employees in the Nigerian banking sector.
To ascertain the relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction among employees in the Nigerian banking sector.
1.5 Significance of the Study    
     This study is being undertaken to find out the extent of impact of occupational stress on job satisfaction among employees working in the Nigerian banking sector. The study would be of great relevance to the corporate managers and board members of banks in decision making and policy formulation and implementation. It could also benefit managers during strategy formulation and implementation. Workers can equip themselves to face challenges that result from occupational stress and ensure consistency in productivity. Thus, workers in the Nigerian banking sector would benefit from this study as well as other stakeholders in the banking sector as well as other stakeholders in other related sectors.
1.6 Scope of the Study
In terms of temporal delimitation, the study is a cross-sectional study because it makes use of primary data collated as at the present time of the research. Copies of a structured questionnaire carefully designed to elicit respondents’ feelings about their level of stress and satisfaction with the job will be administered to the selected respondents. Geographically, the research work is limited to the banks within the Ugbowo area of Benin City in Edo State.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
Admittedly, a number of factors acted as constraints to this study. In the first place, the fact that the sample is drawn from one particular area, on the basis of which generalized conclusions are made is in itself a limiting factor. In the same vein, the use of structured questionnaire as a tool to elicit respondents’ responses and unwillingness of respondents to fill the questionnaire objectively as well as the reliability and validity of the research instrument served as a limitation.