Occupational Stress towards Job Satisfaction on modern trade and long hours standing Employees in Sri Lanka

Introduction

In recent years, Occupational stress in organizations with long hours and physically demanding duties has become a key source of concern for employee job unsatisfaction in Sri Lanka's modern retail industry. Employees in modern retail workplaces, such as retail chains and large format stores, frequently spend long hours standing, performing repetitive tasks, and interacting with consumers. This setting can cause severe physical and emotional stress, impacting job satisfaction and overall productivity.

Understanding Occupational Stress in the Modern Trade

Employees in modern trade—working in retail chains, supermarkets, and other large-format stores—frequently confront specific stressors that have a direct impact on their job satisfaction. Long-term standing, customer interaction, and repeated jobs all lead to physical and psychological strain. Workers in Sri Lanka, where retail is expanding and competition is severe, face challenging work situations which impact their health and morale (ukessays, 2024).

Factors contributing to stress:

long-standing hours

Retail workers, including cashiers and store staff, stand for long shifts. Standing for hours causes weariness, joint pain, and long-term health issues like varicose veins and back problems. Sri Lankan retail chains require this physical stamina without breaks, adding to employee stress.

Target-driven performance pressure

Retailers set high sales and customer service goals. This puts pressure on employees to meet goals, manage inventory, and multitask. Local supermarkets often set up selling quotas for floor staff, even when foot traffic is minimal. High expectations can overwhelm and stress personnel.

Intensive Customer Engagement

Cultural demands of hospitality and customer respect in Sri Lanka increase stress. Even during high hours or difficult client interactions, retail staff must be polite and tolerant. In crowded areas like Colombo or Kandy, stores see a daily arrival of clients, which can over exhaust-tired workers.

Few Breaks

Many retail workers have few breaks due to the quick pace. Peak hours are more stressful because there is little opportunity to recover, reducing job satisfaction. Local workers said “no time for a proper break” is a serious concern affecting their physical and mental health (Brenneman, 2023).

The Impact on Job Satisfaction

The job satisfaction of employees is significantly impacted by this cumulative stress. Individuals who experience feelings of dissatisfaction are considerably more inclined to pursue employment opportunities somewhere else when the stressors exceed the advantages.

Stress without release causes employees to resign, as seen in Sri Lankan retail establishments. Many part-time and full-time workers quit after a few months due to undervaluation and overwork. Physical and emotional stress diminishes staff engagement with customers and productivity. Customer service suffers as employees become less attentive. Long hours of standing and repetitive activities might cause chronic health problems. Since people are constantly uncomfortable at work, these health issues lower job satisfaction (Hockley, 2022).

Managing Stress for Better Job Satisfaction

Retail businesses must address occupational stress to keep staff happy and productive. Job happiness can be improved by rotating between duties or working shifts that limit standing time. Providing a rest space and short breaks helps reduce staff weariness. Stress-management training and counselling can help employees address daily pressures. Creating channels where employees can discuss problems or offer improvements additionally encourages confidence (Batson, 2024).

Conclusion
Sri Lanka's modern trade sector suffers with occupational stress. Retailers may reduce occupational stress and create a culture of employee satisfaction by establishing appropriate flexibility, rest, and well-being policies. Such reforms benefit employees, improve customer service, reduce unemployment, and boost brand reputation, ensuring long-term success in Sri Lanka's competitive retail industry.

Reference’s

01.   Batson, R., 2024. Addressing Workplace Stress: Insights from Neuroscience and the Role of Play. [Online]
Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/addressing-workplace-stress-insights-from-role-play-rene-batson-p7dac
[Accessed 07 11 2024].

02.   Brenneman, K., 2023. How employee stress can impact an agency’s bottom line. [Online]
Available at: https://blog.pia.org/2023/05/15/how-employee-stress-can-impact-an-agencys-bottom-line/
[Accessed 07 11 2024].

03.   Hockley, D., 2022. Why tackling stress in the workplace is critical for organisations. [Online]
Available at: https://elitebusinessmagazine.co.uk/people/item/why-tackling-stress-in-the-workplace-is-critical-for-organisations
[Accessed 07 11 2024].

04.   ukessays, 2024. Influence Of Job Stress On Workers At Supermarkets. [Online]
Available at: https://www.ukessays.com/essays/management/influence-of-job-stress-on-workers-at-supermarkets-management-essay.php
[Accessed 07 11 2024].