Impact of Job Stress on Non-Managerial Employees Job Performance with the Moderating Effect of Gender in Banking Industry in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

In the modern-day world, job stress has become the prevalent discussion in many countries and organizations due to a variety of factors such as globalization, technological development, economic and political problems, work demands and societal pressures. The fast-paced nature of the banking industry, coupled with high customer demands and complex financial regulations, has contributed to increased levels of job stress among employees. Understanding how this stress impacts job performance is essential for organizational productivity and employee well-being. Additionally, gender differences may influence how employees experience and respond to job stress, which can have implications for performance outcomes. Employees in the banking industry, especially non-managerial employees, experience high levels of job stress and it significantly influences employee performance and organizational success. In this research study, a systematic empirical study was conducted to fill out the contextual gap with the objective of examining the moderating effect of gender on the impact of job stress, including dimensions of work overload, role ambiguity, and time pressure, on the non-managerial employees’ job performance in the banking industry in Colombo district, Sri Lanka. The research adopts a quantitative approach, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect data from a sample of non-managerial employees across various banks in Colombo. Time horizon of the study was cross sectional and unit of analysis was individual. A sample of 360 individual non-managerial employees who are working in the banking industry in Colombo district was selected using the simple random sampling method. Using a self-administrated online questionnaire, including 35 question statements, data was gathered from respondents. The data gathered from the questionnaire was analyzed using the computer-based statistical data analysis package SPSS. The reliability and validity of the instruments were assured. The empirical findings of the study revealed that work overload, role ambiguity, and time pressure have a significant negative impact on non-managerial employees’ job performance in the banking industry in Colombo district. Furthermore, moderation analysis is conducted to determine whether gender plays a significant role in moderating this relationship. Ultimately, the findings of the study reveal that job stress negatively impacts job performance, with higher stress levels leading to reduced employee efficiency and effectiveness. However, the moderation analysis indicates that the effect of job stress on performance varies by gender. Male and female employees experience and respond to stress differently, with women showing a slightly stronger negative impact on job performance under stress compared to men. This study highlights the importance of recognizing gender specific differences when addressing job stress in the banking sector, suggesting that tailored stress management interventions may be beneficial in improving overall job performance.