Abstract
The objectives of this study were to assess the internal consistency of the ASSET, to identify occupational stressors for employees in an insurance company and to assess the relationships between occupational stress, ill health and organisational commitment. A cross-sectional survey design was used. An availability sample (N = 613) of employees in an insurance company was used. An Organisational Stress Screening Tool (ASSET) was used as measuring instrument. The results showed that job insecurity as well as pay and benefits were the highest stressors in the insurance industry. Two stressors, namely job characteristics and control were statistically significant predictors of low organisational commitment. Physical ill health was best predicted by overload and job characteristics. Three stressors, namely work-life balance, overload and job characteristics best predicted psychological ill health.
Highlights
Due to rapid economic growth, urbanisation and popular education (Chan, 2002) the insurance industry expanded considerably in the 19th century, resulting in acute competitiveness and rivalry between companies (Chan, 2002; Lai, Chan, Ko & Boey, 2000)
The aims of this study were to assess the internal consistency of the An Organisational Stress Screening Tool (ASSET), to identify occupational stressors for employees in an insurance company and to assess the relationships between occupational stress, ill health and organisational commitment
The results showed that job insecurity as well as pay and benefits were the highest stressors in the insurance industry
Summary
Due to rapid economic growth, urbanisation and popular education (Chan, 2002) the insurance industry expanded considerably in the 19th century, resulting in acute competitiveness and rivalry between companies (Chan, 2002; Lai, Chan, Ko & Boey, 2000). Occupational stress has become one of the commonest reasons for medical retirement (Cooper & Cartwright, 1994) It is evident, that in order for any organisation to address stress-related issues and implement effective interventions, it is necessary to diagnose job characteristics and working conditions that the workforce perceive to be stressful, investigate the outcomes of any stressors that are experienced and establish whether any particular sub-group of the working population is at greater risk (Kinman, 2001). In terms of the current research, occupational stress of employees working in an insurance company in South Africa is studied Is it important to establish reliable and valid methods of measurement of perceived stress, but based on the findings, the aim will be to understand stress as an organisational phenomenon so that it can be tackled at the organisation level
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