scholarly journals Occupational stress of employees in an insurance company

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Coetzer ◽  
S. Rothmann
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Insurance Industry ◽  
Job Characteristics ◽  
Insurance Company ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
And Control

The objectives of this study were to assess the internal consistency of the ASSET, to identify occupational stressors for employees in an insurance company and to assess the relationships between occupational stress, ill health and organisational commitment. A cross-sectional survey design was used. An availability sample (N = 613) of employees in an insurance company was used. An Organisational Stress Screening Tool (ASSET) was used as measuring instrument. The results showed that job insecurity as well as pay and benefits were the highest stressors in the insurance industry. Two stressors, namely job characteristics and control were statistically significant predictors of low organisational commitment. Physical ill health was best predicted by overload and job characteristics. Three stressors, namely work-life balance, overload and job characteristics best predicted psychological ill health.

scholarly journals Job insecurity, organisational commitment and work engagement among staff in an open distance learning institution

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
A N Moshoeu ◽  
D J Geldenhuys
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Measuring Instruments ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Alternative Employment

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between job insecurity, organisational commitment and work engagement among staff in an open distance learning institution. The research was conducted through computer-aided telephone interviews and self-completion techniques. A cross-sectional survey design was conducted among 260 employees in an open distance learning institution. The measuring instruments included the job insecurity scale, organisational commitment questionnaire and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. The results demonstrated statistically significant relationships between job insecurity and organisational commitment, and between job insecurity and work engagement. A practically significant relationship between variables was also determined; however, the effect was too small to yield a practically significant relationship between the variables. The results revealed that a component of job insecurity (likelihood of loss of job features), together with a component of work engagement (vigour), explains 25% of the total variation of organisational commitment and that the remaining 75% was attributed to factors beyond the scope of this study. This study demonstrated that employees would not always reduce their commitment and work effort when confronted with uncertainty as suggested by several studies. Nevertheless, it could be assumed that the survey participants fear being unemployed and feel trapped because of a lack of alternative employment opportunities.

scholarly journals Occupational stress, organisational commitment and ill-health of employees at a higher education institution in South Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Coetzee ◽  
S. Rothmann
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Control Work

The objectives of this study were to assess the indicators and moderators of occupational stress at a higher education institution in South Africa, as well as differences based on language and years of experience at the institution. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The participants included academic and support staff at a higher education institution (N = 372). An Organisational Stress Screening Tool (ASSET) and a biographical questionnaire were administered. Workload, control, work-relationships and pay and benefits were the major occupational stressors in the institution. Compared to the international norm, participants reported higher levels of physical and psychological ill-health and perceived lack of commitment from the organisation. Analysis of variance revealed differences in occupational stress levels for all the biographical variables tested. Organisational commitment moderated the effect of occupational stress on ill-health. Opsomming Die doelstellings van hierdie studie was om die aanwysers en verligtende faktore van beroepstres in ’n hoëronderwysinstansie in Suid-Afrika te identifiseer, asook moontlike verskille gebaseer op taal en jare ervaring by die instansie te bepaal. ’n Dwarsdeursnee-opnameontwerp is gebruik. Die deelnemers het bestaan uit akademiese en ondersteuningspersoneel verbonde aan ’n hoëronderwysinstansie (N = 372). ’n Organisasiestresgraderingsinstrument (ASSET) en ’n biografiese vraelys is afgeneem. Oorlading, kontrole, werksverhoudinge en salaris en byvoordele was die vernaamste stressore in die instelling. Vergeleke met die internasionale norm, het deelnemers hoër vlakke van fisieke en psigologiese ongesondheid gerapporteer, en ook ’n gebrek aan verbondenheid komende van die werkgewer ervaar. Variansieanalise het verskille in werkstresvlakke uitgewys vir al die biografiese veranderlikes wat getoets is. Organisasieverbondenheid het die effek van beroepstres op ongesondheid gematig.

scholarly journals Job insecurity, burnout and organisational commitment among employees of a financial institution in Gauteng

2005 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Bosman ◽  
J H Buitendach ◽  
K Laba
Keyword(s):  
Financial Institution ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
General Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Professional Efficacy ◽  
The Relationship

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between job insecurity, burnout and organisational commitment of human resource workers (N = 146) in a financial institution. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The Job Insecurity Questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, Organisational Commitment Questionnaire and a biographical questionnaire were administered. Job insecurity demonstrated a relationship with increased levels of burnout and decreased levels of organisational commitment. Job insecurity was found to hold predictive value with regard to exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy, as well as reduced affective and normative commitment (while controlling for the influence of background variables). Opsomming Die doelstelling van hierdie navorsing was om die verhouding tussen werksonsekerheid, uitbranding en organisasie verbondenheid van menslike hulpbronwerknemers (N = 146) in ’n finansiële instelling te ondersoek. ’n Dwarsneeopname-ontwerp is gebruik. Die Werksonsekerheidvraelys, Maslach Uitbrandingvraelys, Organisasieverbondenheidvraelys en ’n biografiese vraelys is afgeneem. Werksonsekerheid het ’n verband met verhoogde vlakke van uitbranding en verlaagde vlakke van organisasie verbondenheid getoon. Daar is bevind dat werksonsekerheid voorspellingswaarde inhou vir uitputting, sinisme en verminderde professionele doeltreffendheid, sowel as verminderde affektiewe en normatiewe organisasieverbondenheid (terwyl daar gekontroleer is vir die invloed van demografiese verskille).

scholarly journals Psychological capital, work engagement and organisational commitment amongst call centre employees in South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet C. Simons ◽  
Johanna H. Buitendach
Keyword(s):  
Work Engagement ◽  
Psychological Capital ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Measuring Instruments ◽  
Call Centre ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Managerial Implications

Orientation: The development of psychological capital amongst call centre employees could have an impact on positive work-related attitudes and behaviour; such as work engagement and organisational commitment.Research purpose: The purpose of the research was to determine the relationship between psychological capital, work engagement and organisational commitment amongst call centre employees; and further, to determine whether psychological capital and work engagement hold predictive value for the organisational commitment of call centre employees.Motivation for the study: There is a gap in research in understanding and enabling positive resource capacities in highly stressful work contexts such as call centres.Research design, approach and method: A cross-sectional survey design was used. A sample of 106 call centre employees from a South African organisation participated in the research. The measuring instruments included a demographic questionnaire, the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) and the Organisational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ).Main findings: Significant positive relationships were found between psychological capital, work engagement and organisational commitment. The results showed work engagement as being the only significant predictor of organisational commitment.Practical/managerial implications: Call centre employers need to develop and implement workplace interventions that would increase the psychological capital of call centre employees.Contribution/value-add: The research findings will benefit both call centre employees and management. The study highlighted the importance of the role of optimism as a subdimension of psychological capital in developing work engagement and organisational commitment amongst call centre employees.

scholarly journals Work-nonwork interference: Can ministers currently cope with increasing job demands against limited resources within South Africa?

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anso Van der Westhuizen ◽  
Eileen Koekemoer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Job Characteristics ◽  
Job Resources ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
And Coping

Ministers of religion have a unique occupation with designated job demands and incongruous resources at their disposal. Literature indicates that stressors within the work environment are significant predictors of work-nonwork interference. Ministers play a key role within society and provide support for individuals on multiple levels. However, limited studies are found in South Africa focussing on ministers’ job characteristics related to work-nonwork interference, and how ministers cope. The main objective of this study was to investigate job demands and job resources as significant predictors of work-nonwork interference amongst ministers of religion, and to identify which coping strategies are most significant for ministers in dealing with work-nonwork interference. A cross-sectional survey design was used amongst ministers working in the three sister churches (N = 199). Various instruments were administered to measure job characteristics, work-nonwork interference and coping strategies empirically. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, product-moment correlations and multiple regression analyses. Results indicated that for ministers different job demands (i.e. cognitive demands and pace and amount of work) and job resources (i.e. financial support and job significance) significantly predicted work-parent, work-home and work-religion/spirituality interference. Results indicated turning to religion as the only significant coping strategy used by ministers to deal with work-parent interference and work-religion interference. Ministers of religion are continually exposed to increasing job demands and a lack of job resources, and therefore experience work-nonwork interference. Nevertheless, the ministers apparently cope by using the strategy best related to their profession, turning to religion/spirituality. Turning to religion/spirituality seems to be the most effective in dealing with work-nonwork interference.

scholarly journals Retention factors in relation to organisational commitment in medical and information technology services

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannette Van Dyk ◽  
Melinde Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Retention Factors ◽  
Information Technology Services ◽  
Technology Services ◽  
Managerial Implications

Orientation: Retaining staff with scarce and critical skills in the medical and information technology (IT) industry has become a top priority because of skills shortages.Research purpose: The objectives of the study were to investigate empirically: (1) the relationship between employees’ satisfaction with organisational retention factors (measured by the Retention Factors Scale) and their organisational commitment (measured by the Organisational Commitment Questionnaire) and (2) whether gender, age, race and tenure groups differ significantly in terms of these variables.Motivation for the study: Medical and information technology professionals have specialised and hard to replace skills. They also have strong tendencies to leave their organisations and countries. Understanding the retention factors that will increase their organisational commitment may benefit the organisations who want to retain their valuable talent.Research design, approach and method: The researchers used a cross-sectional survey design to collect data from a purposive sample of 206 staff members who had scarce skills in a South African medical and information technology services company. Correlational and inferential statistics were computed to achieve the objectives.Main findings: The results showed that the participants’ satisfaction with retention factors has a significant relationship with their organisational commitment and that the biographical groups differ significantly in terms of the variables.Practical/managerial implications: The measured retention factors were all associated with human resource management practices that influence employees’ intentions to leave.Contribution/value-add: The results are important to managers who are interested in retaining staff who have scarce skills and provide valuable pointers for designing effective retention strategies.

scholarly journals Occupational stress, sense of coherence, coping, burnout and work engagement of registered nurses in South Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna J. Van der Colff ◽  
Sebastiaan Rothmann
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Registered Nurses ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the occupational stress, sense of coherence, coping, burnout and work engagement of registered nurses in South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The study population consisted of 818 registered nurses. The Nursing Stress Inventory, the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, the COPE, the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale were administered. The results show that the experience of depletion of emotional resources and feelings of depersonalisation by registered nurses were associated with stress due to job demands and a lack of organisational support, focus on and ventilation of emotions as a coping strategy, and a weak sense of coherence. Work engagement was predicted by a strong sense of coherence and approach-coping strategies.

scholarly journals Authentic leadership and follower trust in the leader: The effect of precariousness

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deon J. Kleynhans ◽  
Marita M. Heyns ◽  
Marius W. Stander
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Style ◽  
Authentic Leadership ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Follower Trust

Orientation: In a business context characterised by precariousness and uncertainty, the importance of trusting leader-follower relationships is becoming critical to navigate imminent challenges preventing organisational sustainability and progress. The potential negative impact of related challenges could be reduced by encouraging leaders to adopt an authentic leadership style, culminating in various positive employee and organisational outcomes.Research purpose: This study investigated the impact of authentic leadership (AL) on follower trust in the leader (TL), while considering the possible indirect influence of perceived precariousness in the form of job insecurity.Motivation for the study: Establishing a high level of trust among the followers and their leaders employed by a manufacturing organisation under operational and financial pressure might contribute to a more effective functioning of the entity.Research approach/design and method: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was applied. The Authentic Leadership Inventory, Workplace Trust Survey, and Job Insecurity Scale were administered.Main findings: Authentic leadership was a significant predictor of TL. Job insecurity did not moderate the relationship between AL and TL.Practical/managerial implications: Promoting an AL style will benefit manufacturing organisations as it will elevate the trustful relationship between leaders and followers, despite precarious working conditions.Contribution/value-add: The study emphasises AL’s critical role in cultivating a trustful relationship between followers and their leaders. The non-significant influence of job insecurity on a trustful relationship in a precarious work context was also highlighted.

scholarly journals Financial health and sense of coherence

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoni Barnard ◽  
Dorè Peters ◽  
Helene Muller
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Debt Crisis ◽  
Debt Management ◽  
Insurance Company ◽  
Financial Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Wellness ◽  
The Impact

Orientation: This article reports on a quantitative-relational study addressing the impact of sense of coherence (SOC), which is a psychological-wellness construct, on the financial-health profile of employees in an insurance company.Research purpose: The objective of the study was to explore the relationship between psychological wellness as operationalised in the SOC construct and in financial health.Motivation for the study: Financial pressure can be a major stressor in the workplace, affecting employees’ ability to function optimally. The debt crisis in South Africa is therefore necessitating employers to invest in the financial health of their employees. In light of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005, employers should, in fact, provide debt counselling to employees struggling with financial problems. In the South African context, however, studies investigating the potential influence of psychological-wellness constructs on financial health are lacking.Research design, approach and method: A cross-sectional survey design was applied and a quantitative-relational approach followed. From the 1 100 employees in a financial insurance company, 435 completed questionnaires were received.Main findings: The empirical results indicated a significant relationship between the variables, confirming that a stronger SOC impacts positively on employees’ financial health. A stronger SOC therefore relates positively to more effective debt management and retirement planning.Practical/managerial implications: The findings emphasised the importance of debt management and retirement planning being addressed and integrated into employee-assistance strategies and programmes.Contribution/value-add: This study is a significant step in addressing financial health from a psychological perspective.

scholarly journals Human resource practices and affective organisational commitment: A sectoral comparative study

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renier Steyn ◽  
Magda L. Bezuidenhout ◽  
Anton Grobler
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hr Practices ◽  
Public And Private Sector

Orientation: Organisational commitment (OC) is often depicted as a desirable employee attitude and relates to organisational performance. Little research has been carried out on the (Human Resource) HR practices–OC relationship within the South African context, and specifically with regard to this relationship across various sectors.Research purpose: The purpose of this contribution is to specify the HR practices–OC relationship, within South Africa, and specifically across various sectors.Motivation for the study: It addresses the important matter of OC, a necessary requirement for sustaining organisations, through effective delivery of HR practices.Research design, approach and method: This study is based on a cross-sectional survey design, collecting primary data on HR practices and OC from South African employees in public and private sector organisations, as well as state-owned entities.Main findings: Minimal practically significant mean scored differences were detected among HR practices delivered per sector. Furthermore, a positive link between effective HR practices and OC was found within each of the three sectors, but this relationship was sector-specific.Practical implications: The findings of this study offer a new, contextualised perspective on the HR practices–OC relationship. The data gathered could assist practitioners in reshaping HR policies – and particularly practices – to suit their specific sector.Contribution and value add: The findings of this study are expected to offer valuable insight into the deferential management along sector lines. They also reiterate the importance of localised research and caution practitioners not to transfer research findings to local settings without a thorough investigation of local research.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document