Veritatis Gaudium: Multidisciplinary Journal of Postgraduate Studies

This study examined the effect of job stress on employees’ performance of finance and accounts directorate in Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Abuja. Specifically, it investigated the effects of workload on productivity, time pressure on timeliness, role conflict on effectiveness, and interpersonal and environmental stressors on efficiency. The study draws on the Yerkes-Dodson Law, and Conservation of Resources Theory as mechanism for explaining the effect of job stress on employees’ performance. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The study population comprised 85 employees, and a census sampling technique was employed. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire validated through expert review and pilot testing, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.77 to 0.85. Of the 85 questionnaires distributed, 78 were returned, representing a 91.8% response rate. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that workload (mean = 4.21), time pressure (mean = 4.08), interpersonal and environmental stressors (mean = 3.92), and role conflict (mean = 3.85) were prevalent among employees. Employee performance was moderate, with effectiveness recording the highest mean score (3.62) and efficiency the lowest (3.18). Correlation analysis showed significant negative relationships between each stressor and its corresponding performance dimension. Regression results indicated that workload significantly predicted productivity (β = -0.542, R² = 0.294), time pressure predicted timeliness (β = -0.487, R² = 0.237), role conflict predicted effectiveness (β = -0.612, R² = 0.374), and interpersonal and environmental stressors predicted efficiency (β = -0.534, R² = 0.285), all at p < 0.001. The study concluded that job stress significantly reduces employee performance. It recommended workload audits, realistic deadlines, improved workplace conditions, conflict-resolution mechanisms, and staff counseling services to mitigate stress and enhance performance.

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