THE EFFECT OF WORKPLACE STRESS ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY OF THE JUDICIAL SERVICE OF GHANA IN THE ASHANTI REGION

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of workplace stress on employee performance. The study however concentrated on employees in the Judicial Service of Ghana in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. The study was divided into three objectives that is; identify the effect of organisational level stress on the performance of employees, identify the effect of individual level stress on the performance of the employees, to identify perceived coping strategies adopted by employees in the Judicial Service in reducing their stress levels. The study was quantitative in nature and was a descriptive survey. Data was collected with the help of a structured questionnaire and a simple random sampling technique was used to sample seventy (70) respondents for the purpose of the study. The results of the study showed that, organizational level stressors had a positive nonsignificant influence on the performance of employees and individual level stressors had a positive non-significant effect on the performance of employees in the Judicial Service. Also, it was found that stress is present in the Judicial Service assuch employees use coping strategies such as physical exercise and attending of social activities to cope with the stress. It was recommended that; the management of the Judicial Service consider the results of the study in providing education on the effects of stress on the performance of the employees and also, proper and healthy working conditions should be provided along with all required resources and information. Further studies can consider studying how other variables such as training and development affects employee performance.