Stress management among employees in the downstream oil and gas sector in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

In Ghana, the oil and gas industry is expanding more quickly, and many businesses are making investments in the retail selling of oil. Once more, the industry has a job that is becoming more and more demanding, requiring long working hours, difficult duties in maintaining and adhering to proper safety measures, and a highly competitive market. Hence, in order to increase employee wellbeing and the effectiveness of job output, firms must now effectively incorporate stress management practices into their policies. The goal of the study was to assess stress and stress management strategies among staff members of oil marketing companies (OMCs) in Accra, Ghana. The descriptive survey technique was adopted for the study and the quantitative approach was employed. A total sample of 180 employees participated in the study. Questionnaire and observations were the instrument used for data collection. The researcher found that the nature of stress experienced by the employees in the OMCs included frequent fatigue, headaches and mood swings. Also, the study found out that job insecurity, long working hours among others were the major causes of stress at the workplace. The study also found out that the effects of stress on employees were both physiological and behavioural. That is, these factors brought about lower job satisfaction and organizational commitment and higher levels of intention to leave the organization. The study concluded that stress is prevalent among employees of the OMCs in Accra and that stress affect employees in diverse ways. It is therefore recommended that management of the OMCs should be alert of stress signs to reduce stress wherever possible. In addition, it is also the duties of employees to look after their own health and safety at work by adopting coping strategies to manage stress.