Stress and Employee Performance: A Review of the Nexus

Abstract

The issue of stress in the work place has gained scholarly attention over the years. Stress is inevitable in the workplace and our everyday life. Effectively and efficiently managing work related stress to ensure productivity is the crux of this study. The objective of the study is to examine the extent to which stress (workload, role conflict and role ambiguity) can affect employee performance in an organization. The study relied on scholarly publications to review the relationship between stress and employee performance. A conceptual approach was adopted in this study. Three research questions were developed to guide the study. The findings indicate that role ambiguity, workload, and role conflict have an effect on employee performance within an organisation. It is suggested that organisations should design tasks and jobs in a manner that promotes commitment, effectiveness, and efficiency, thereby enhancing the performance of their workforce. Furthermore, human resource management strategies, policies, and plans should incorporate flexible work schedules to facilitate employee commitment and performance, which will increase the survival of the organisation. By implication provides an insight to managers, governments, academicians and other stakeholders of the negative effect of stress and its on employee employee performance.