ABSTRACT

According to research studies into the relationship between a worker’s life and his job, stress is assuming a position as number one killer disease in the modern society.  The purpose of his work was to find out the effects of stress on the secretary’s job performance, what factors caused this stress and how their effects were manifested and could be controlled. To do this, literature review relating to the effects of stress on the workers especially the sedentary worker, was conducted.  A questionnaire was drawn up with which data were collected.  This was supplemented by face-to-face interviews with secretaries and observations.  The respondents were from Anammco Company and Emenite Aluminium Company, Enugu.  In all, 100 questionnaires were distributed and 88 were returned while 12 were not returned. The researcher from data analysis found out that secretaries under-face a lot of stressing situations in the course of doing their job but that some were more devastating in the effects than others.  The three most significant stressors identified were: Lack of adequate and sufficient working materials and equipment, Strenous human relation in the workplace and, Lack of necessary qualification, both physically and mentally on the part of the secretary to handle the job efficiently. Recommendation were however made that adequate training of the secretary physically and mentally should be provided.  Provision of good working materials for the secretary as well as adequate co-operation from the boss will help to go a long way in helping reduce the stressful situation in the secretary’s job.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                i

Approval page                                                                 ii

Dedication                                                                       iii

Acknowledgement                                                           iv

Abstract                                                                          v

Table of contents                                                            vi

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY                              1

1.0   Preamble                                                                 1

1.1      Statement of the problem                                       2

1.2      Purpose of the study                                               3

1.3      Significance of the study                                        4

1.4      Research question                                                  6

1.5      Scope of the study:                                                 6

1.6      Definition of terms:                                                 7

CHAPTER TWO

2.0      Related literature review                                               9

2.1      What is stress?                                                       9

2.2      Types of stress:                                                       12

2.3      Relationship between individual and organizational stress:                                                                 22

2.4      Causes of stress                                                      25

2.5      Effects of stress:                                                      34

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN             36

3.0   research methodology                                            36

3.1      A brief outline of the study                                     36

3.2      Design of the study                                                 37

3.3      Area of study                                                          37

3.4      Population of the study                                          38

3.5      Sample population                                                  38

3.6      Sources of data collection:                                      39

3.7      Validity of instrument                                            42

3.8      Method of data analysis:                                        43

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0  DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS            45

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0  SUMMARY OF FINDINGS                                66

5.1      Recommendations:                                                 67

5.2      Limitation of the study                                           70

5.3      Conclusion:                                                             74

5.4      Suggestion for further research                             74

References                                                              76

Questionnaires                                                       78

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.0     PREAMBLE            

The secretary works is of all necessary zeal, because is packed wit a lot of conflicting situations, so much that a  days of working is not the same with others. This situation of work crop up all the time and it demand much decision and Attentions.

The functions of the secretary are basic to the organizational roles which indicate covering of meetings, taking care of office duties and supervising subordinates as well as keeping order generally in the office etc. All these to be done to enable the smooth flow of work.

The secretary’s obligations to the boss can sometimes be strenuous and conflicting with her other duties to herself and to the organization.  This view of secretary’s function is an ancient one in view of the changes that have taken place in her training and job but some employer stick to it and cause her stress on the job when she finds difficulty in obeying these instructions.

1.1     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

 Media organization operate in the dynamic and ever changing environment, because the modern organization exists in rapidly changing environment, the secretary is faced with a lot of physical and mental hazards on the job which may cause her stress  like noise, lack of preparations for certain jobs or duties, attitude of the public to the job she does  sitting arrangements, organizational structure and their effects on her job, lack of proper qualifications for the job may also  cause her stress.

Though not manifest in quantifiable terms, these threats cause stress that may eventually spell doom to the secretary mentally as well as physically.

Fache (1981) said “for every successful businessman, organization, to progress there is always an efficient and hardworking secretary. It becomes of urgent needs to take a very keen look at the job the secretary does and find out what does cause her stress. 

If this is done, then plans on how to eliminate in control than can be successfully made and executed.

1.2     PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this research is to find out the environmental factors associated with the secretary’s job stress, and their causes on her job performance.  The study, in looking at this problem, attempts to find out.

1.3     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The causes of stress on the secretary job performance have become an issue of general concern that needs urgent attention and solution.

In significance of the study, the researcher based on the importance of the study, which will be of great importance to the society at large and primarily be useful to the following:

1.     THE MANAGEMENT (Sec|retary’s boss).

Ignorance of how well to treat a secretary in order to get her best performance may be one of the reasons why the secretary is subjected to stressful conditions at the place of work.  It is hoped that after reading this work the boss will be better informed as how to handle a secretary to get maximum performance from her.

2.     THE PROFESSIONAL SECRETARY:

It is hoped that as a result of careful perusal of this work, the secretary will be in a better position to recognize stressors, avoid them whenever possible and control their effects on her performance.  This should lead to a better job performance on her part.

3.     TRAINERS

Sometimes, people who train the secretary for the job are hopelessly out of contact with what is required of her at the place of work so that training programmes are not up to what they should be.  It is hoped that this will help trainers identify vital training areas on which to lay emphasis and from time to time improve on facilities to meet with modern office procedures.