Occupational Stress And Its Management In The Pole Treatment Industries Of Zimbabwe: A Case Study Of Border Timbers Limited Pole Treatment Yard, Mutare

Abstract

The main goal of the study was to assess occupational stress and its management in the Pole

Treatment industries of Zimbabwe with focus on Border Timbers Limited Pole Treatment

Yard. Identification of sources of stress, examination of patterns and coping strategies as well

as analysis of relationships between perceived levels of stress and various variables such as

job experience and work site were done. The research employed a cocktail of both

quantitative and qualitative methods through the use of techniques such as questionnaires,

interviews and observations. The research established that safety issues, unhealthy work sites,

delays in the payment of salaries, unfair salaries and benefits as well as lack of recognition

for outstanding work done were the main sources of stress. It ascertained that workers were

more affected by organizational related factors as compared to job related ones. The research

also established that workers who are tenants, sole breadwinners with big family sizes and

mostly affected by home pressure recorded high levels of work stress. Institutional coping

strategies were found to be fragmented, weak and almost nonexistent.

On an individual

basis, most workers employed positive coping strategies such as going to church and

releasing pressure through discussing troubling issues with coworkers.

Proper environmental

management at the work sites, stress management training and adoption of employee

wellness and assistance programs were the main recommendations brought forward to

improve the workers’ welfare and reduce the levels of occupational stress.

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