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INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN BUSINESS
state that results when the resources of the individual are not sufficient to cope with the
demands and pressures of the situation (Robbins, 1996). Thus, stress is more likely in
some situations than others and in some individuals than others. However, stress is not
always negative or harmful and indeed, the absence of stress is death. Moreover stress
can’t be eliminated as it serves as a driving force if kept at a certain level, so it needs to
be managed in order to perform well on the job.
In Pakistan every year nearly 10000 students graduate as business professionals who
strive for their career in the banking sector which is the one of the largest economic
backbone of the country, but it is observed that for past few years there are some serious
changeovers in career orientations which made the banking as one of the most stressful
professions and pointed out the necessity of considering and investigating occupational
stress, since performance declines under stressful situations. Therefore, stress at
workplace has become a major concern to the financial institutions of today. Several
authors attributed the lack of progress in the area of stress research in organizations to the
fact that stress seemed to be related to such a large number of conditions which prevented
a systematic focus. Much of the research on job stress has been conducted in developed
countries. Relatively little research has been carried out elsewhere in the world. The
current research study contributes theoretically and empirically to the literature on job
stress by examining the impact of workplace stress on job performance of employees
working in banking sector of Pakistan.
Literature Review
Over the past few decades stress is emerging as an increasing organizational issue in both
organizational research and practice. A mainstream group of employees articulated that
their employers did not care for its employees and sometimes employees don’t like to
work with their organizations indicating high levels of stress among them. Misfit with
employers in the capacity of no part in decision making was reported main source of job
stress as well no control over workplace environment, personality characteristics, lack of
relaxation along with ambiguous organizational rules affect employees’ job performance
(Anderson, 2003; French, & Caplan, 1972; Pincherle, 1972). Better managed human
resources are more cooperative and productive and serve as assets for an organization and
when their stress is ignored by the organization, the results are increased absenteeism and
cost; low productivity and motivation and usually legal financial damages (Jamal, 1984).
Stress is a universal experience in the life of each and every employee even executives
and managers. It has been estimated that every year about 100 million workdays are
being lost due to job stress and nearly 50% to 75% diseases are caused by stress. Caplan
(1994) stated that job stress results in high portion of absenteeism and loss of
employment. The ratio of stress affectees’ in financial institutions are increasing day by
day on alarming rate which effects both the employee performance and goal
achievement. Caplan and Jones (1975) examined that job is a prominent source of stress
in bankers’ life but reduced workload, improve management and supervision, supportive
workplace culture, better pay, benefits, and vacation times can reduce the stress among
them.
Job stress is considered as a part of both social and concrete sciences by the
organizational researchers all around the globe. However, Stress is a universal experience
in the life of each and every employee, even high level executives and managers. This
research study discloses the impact of job stress on bankers regardless of any
JUNE 2011
VOL 3, NO 2
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