Work Stress and its unfavorable effects in the workplace have been well researched and documented. Stress itself has been studied from various perspectives. Research has progressed to "uncover" personal and situational moderators of the stressor-strain relationship. It is in this context that the role of empowerment as a moderator of the individual outcomes is explored. This research work aims to address the effectiveness of psychological empowerment as a moderator of work stress in relation to individual outcomes. The results prove the moderating qualities of empowerment and suggest that organizations adopt empowerment strategies. Further research may examine the relative efficacy of the empowerment dimensions.
Mounting research evidence (Cooper and Payne, 1988) proves beyond dispute that stress has a dysfunctional impact on both individual and organizational outcomes. Stress, which has been described as the "Black Plague" of the eighties, has become an important part of everyday life. Links between stress and the incidence of coronary heart disease, job dissatisfaction, poor health behaviors, accidents, mental breakdown, family problems and even certain forms of cancer (Maclean, 1980; Freses, 1985; Cooper and Watson, 1991) have been clearly established. It is a major problem threatening individual, organizational and societal health. The costs arising out of occupational stress to business and industry in monetary terms has been well documented in recent years.
The era of downsizing has resulted in a few forward thinking, cost-effective organizations but the accompanying workplace upheaval has had unpleasant side effects. Heavy workloads, constant fear of job loss, the departure of co-workers and the conflicting demands of work and family have turned many downsized operations into modern day sweat shops. Stress and its manifestations including low morale, high turnover, burnout, excessive absenteeism, violence, substance abuse and hypertension are omnipresent in the modern office (Reese, 1997) and is a constant source of worry for the modern day manager. |
