Stress and Employee Performance at Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of stress management of employee on their performance at Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). In other to achieve the main purpose, the following research questions were asked to guide the study: what are the factors that cause stress among employees, what is the level of stress type experienced by employees, and what is the effect of stress on employee’s performance at Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD)? The study adopted a quantitative research approach and the design was a cross-sectional survey. A sample size of one hundred and twenty-one (121) respondents comprising both managerial and non-managerial staff were used. A stratified random sampling method was used to select participants for the study. The Research instrument used was questionnaire. Study established that work-life balance issues, long hours of work, high workload and inadequate of direction given to them cause them to stress up in the organisation. The study also discovered that most respondents were stressed up as a result of fear. It was again discovered that respondents experienced chronic and acute stress to a small degree. It was also discovered that as a result of stress some absent themselves from work, their morale towards work is diminished, work relationship is poor and finally increased rate of work accidents. The study therefore concluded thatstress had a negative effect on performance at COCOBOD. Further it was recommended that management of COCOBOD must conduct a needs assessment for an Employee Assistance Programme.