Occupational Stress as a Determinant of Workplace Contentment among Employees in the Service Sector and Manufacturing Units

Abstract

In India occupational stress and workplace happiness follow a similar inverse relationship as in other countries. The prevalence of stressful work environments, such as high workload, lack of work-life balance, and job insecurity, can contribute to elevated levels of occupational stress among employees. The study aimed to assess whether occupational stress significantly predicts workplace happiness and to explore the impact of the sector on both variables. A survey using the Occupational Stress Index and Workplace Happiness index was conducted on 102 managers, executives, and supervisors from Gujarat’s service and manufacturing sectors (74 from service sector and 28 from manufacturing sector). Regression analysis revealed that occupational stress negatively predicts workplace happiness, while a t-test showed no significant difference between the service and manufacturing sectors in terms of occupational stress and workplace happiness. Employees perceiving higher occupational stress levels are likely to experience lower workplace happiness. Therefore, organizations should prioritize managing occupational stress to enhance employee well-being and happiness, and both sectors should implement specific initiatives to address stress and promote workplace happiness effectively.