WORKPLACE STRESS AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN SECOND CYCLE SCHOOLS

 ¹Rev Fr. Dr. Augustine Owusu-Addo, ²Samuel Dontoh, and ³Larissa Agbemelo-Tsomafo

¹Department of Arts, Catholic University college of Ghana

²Department of Education, Ofinso College of Education

³Department of Communications and Journalism, Catholic University College of Ghana

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Abstract: The study is centered on researching and evaluating occupational stress and its effects on job performance among members of staff at selected senior high schools in the Sunyani Municipality. The study sought to find out how work-related stress could affect the productivity of staff of selected senior high schools in the Sunyani Municipality in the dispensation of quality education for students in SHS. This research also identified certain factors which contribute to occupational stress among staff of the selected senior high schools. The systematic sampling technique was used to select 150 participants for the study. The results of this study revealed that workload was the major cause of occupational stress among staff of Senior High Schools in the Sunyani Municipality. Health-wise, some members of staff of the selected senior high schools had developed chronic back pain, an effect of long sitting hours at work. Management commitment to employee-related issues such as paying attention to workload conflict remains very important. Training programmes were perceived as significant steps which, if embraced, were identified as major contributory factors that could improve the productivity of staff. It will be prudent on the part of authorities to take a very serious note of occupational stress and manage it very well so as to be able to reduce its effect on output. It has been recommended that these schools in the municipality engage their staff in exercises and training that will help them reduce stress so as to increase productivity. Once this is done, it will translate to the performance of the students. In conclusion, workplace stress has a negative effect on academic output in senior high schools, and this, in the long run, affects the performance of staff and students at large. The earlier it is handled well, the better.