Stress and its effects on the employees in a Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) organisation

Abstract

Employees in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry are at risk of experiencing high levels of stress and burnout. Females are especially even more at risk due to their work-load as well as home-life balance and child rearing responsibilities which could have a spill over effect at work. Although sources of stress vary for employees due to their work as well as life experiences, it could still result in negative and detrimental outcomes in their personal as well as professional lives. Stress could further lead to burnout, resulting in an employee developing a lack of personal accomplishment, emotional exhaustion (the extent to which emotional resources are depleted), as well as depersonalisation (negative, cynical attitudes and feelings towards others). This study highlights the significant relationship between occupational stress and burnout as experienced by males and females working in a factory in the Western Cape. A sample of 120 employees was selected from a population of 1000 workers in the fast moving consumer goods industry. For this study, a quantitative research was undertaken, which involved the use of a probability sampling method. The measuring instruments included the Experience of Work and Life Circumstances Questionnaire (WLQ) for stress and the construct burnout was measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Service (MBI) respectively. Results were obtained by using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and T-tests. Permission to conduct this research study on employees was obtained from the management of the factory. Informed consent, as well as anonymity and confidentiality of the employees’ responses were ensured. This research has shown that no relationship exists between the variables (age, gender and educational level) and stress as none of the variables mentioned were significantly related with stress or burnout at the workplace. Therefore, in conclusion, occupational stress is considered to be a major source of stress for employees and could lead to burnout which thus needs to be addressed more vigorously. The recommendations are based on the conclusions drawn from the study as well as research conducted.