The research aims and objectives
The aim of this study is to find the relationship between employee productivity and work related stress and the different variables that affect this relationship in the UAE. The objectives of the study includes
- To identify the work related stresses
- To determine the effects of work related stresses on the employees’ productivity
- To determine the relationships between the workers performances and the work related stresses
- To determine how different variables affects this relationship
Research question
Upon completion of the study, the following question shall have been answered
- How is employee productivity related to the fluctuation of work related stress in the United Arab Emirates?
Introduction
The literature review tends to explore the relationship between employee productivity and work related stress and different variables that affect this relationship in the United Arab Emirates from various written scholarly articles. The study is significant for the organizations operating in UAE since it will provide more insight on the stated topic as well as help in formulating the strategies that would reduce stresses in the work place and increase the productivity of the employees.
Work related stress in occupational productivity
Work related stresses have been found to have negative impacts on the employees’ productivity. The cultures in the modern work place have increased demands on the employees forcing the workers to offer quick solutions to work related issues. The increased pressure on employees produces increased stresses on employees on the long run.
Relating factors such as finance and health issues also increases stresses on the employees. The way these stresses affect the employees’ productivity remains critical to the attainment of the goals of an organization. Therefore, understanding the relationship between the working related stresses and the employees’ productivity as well as the way related variables affect this relationship is significant to the organizations’ success.
Work stresses and the employees’ productivity in UAE
Over the years, stress in the workplace has continued to be a major shortcoming in the performances of both employees and employers. The stress emanates from higher expectations to perform different tasks that surpass individual abilities of achieving anticipations (Prosser et al., 2007). Enthusiasm at the work place plays a very significant role in influencing individual output since it affects the physical and intellectual potentials of the personnel.
In essence, the maintenance of healthy body as well as fit psyche enhances the ability of employees to perform the physical and mental responsibilities to the optimal levels. Generally, inspiration among the employees and job fulfillment are critical in increasing the performance of the personnel.
However, the achievement of such goals is only possible if the employees are provided with flextime that is significant in enhancing work output, fulfillment, inspiration as well as the reduction of stress levels among the employees (Schaefer & Moos, 2006). Therefore, provision of flextime by the business organization is an ingredient for drastic expansions in workers’ yields and self-confidence levels at the work place.
In this regard, the workforce is motivated thereby reducing the levels of their stress. In any work environment, stress is inevitable aspect that every employee encounters. In fact, the daily activities at the workplace are the cause of nervous tensions in the minds and hearts of every employee. Just like other nations, UAE is no exception.
Actually, in the United Arab Emirates, diverse forms as well as different sources of stress have been identified. To begin with, the diverse forms of stress that workers encounter at the workplace encompass the situational, environmental and mental. Further, the physical as well as relationship stress are also forms of anxieties that affect the performance of employees at the different workplaces within the GCC.
For instance, the noises emanating from people’s ringing phones instead of work concentration induce environmental stress. In addition, most GCC countries such as UAE are characterized by fluctuating temperatures of extreme coldness to extreme hotness are a source of environmental stress at the workplace to the employees (Turnage & Spielberger, 2001).
Secondly, every business sets deadlines for the employees to submit the delegated assignments. Based on such deadlines, the workers are always under pressure thereby leading to situational anxiety. In fact, regular alterations in the work structures as well as unfamiliarity of the new arrangements among the workers are grounds of workers nervous tensions at the UAE.
Thirdly, the physical stress emanates from deficiency of sleep as well the overconsumption of junk foods among employees. As a result, the workers are unable to meet the targets that are expected of them. Due to the escalating extents of mergers and economic interdependence among the Arab countries because of globalization, progress of expertise as well as reorganizations in the work arrangements, workers have been under continuous pressure, unwarranted work expectations as well as collision of roles among the employees (Schonfeld, 2006).
Moreover, the changes have initiated problematic client relations as well as ergonomic paucities. Nonconformance among the company’s employees as well as the lack of prospects in decision-making processes is major causes of anxieties among workers. Studies indicate that deficiency of controlling work situation and lack of recreation together with vague tasks influence the performance of personnel.
The workforce GCC countries especially in UAE suffer from long working periods. The hazards of such long working hours are clearly exhibited ranging from physical to intellectual stress (Parkes, 2000). In fact, researches assert that out of the six percent of the world population infected by diabetes, the United Arab Emirates has about a population of twenty-percent suffering from diabetes related ailments.
In essence, the ailments such as diabetes are side effects of stress at the work places. Further, according to recent studies, about sixty percent of the United Arab Emirates populations out of the sixty-five percent who are stressed are as result of workload at the places of work. Moreover, relationships are also major contributors of stress among the workers thereby affecting their performances and outputs.
For instance, data from the Dubai statistics center indicate that seven hundred and ninety in three thousand and eighty matrimonies resulted in separation of spouses thereby leading to stress among the different parties. Recently, anxieties emanating from workloads pose threats of heart diseases that could jeopardize the performances of employees at their places of work.
For example, a number of hospitals in Dubai continue to register an alarming number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases associated with stress at work places visit several clinics within the nation (Heinisch & Jex, 2007). Another major source of stress among the workers and the public at large in the United Arab Emirates as well as Dubai is the ever-rising financial pressures.
Majority of the residents in the gulf are worried about money and liabilities together with the expectations that they are required to achieve at work. Actually, stress experienced at the places of work comes about when the requirements are required of an employee do not correspond to the personnel proficiencies, assets as well as the requirements.
In the regard, the employees’ attitude towards attending to consumers concerns, disapprovals as well as job choices (Aro & Hasan, 2001). In general, a work place setting characterized by mental and physical nervousness among employees is a basis for low performance and yields among the organization’s personnel. Ensuring a stress free working environment for workers involves eliminating a bad job situation that is insightful of the whole industry customs (Kawakami et al., 2002).
For instance, unhygienic work conditions, disrespectful executives as well as failure to recognizing personnel worth are ingredients for workers’ stress thereby leading to low yields among the workers. To ensure increased performance and productivity among the work units, doing away with stress among the employees is critical. In fact, responding to employees’ grievances, reduction of their workloads as well as offering enough sleep for the workers allows ample time for reflection on the state of minds (Karasek, 2009).
In addition, provision of precise tasks to workers as well as stress management tapes is an effective way businesses can apply to eradicate stress among the workforce. Foreign workers in UAE continue to face work related stress due to the strict housing systems that are exclusively for the citizens. As such, employees are exposed to environmental stressors as well as the organizational cultures that jeopardize their welfare thus affecting the performance and output negatively (Hotopf & Wessely, 2007).
Further, the employees are affected by the organizational cultures characterized by numerous breaks for prays together with tight time limits for completion-n of assignments. Such factors are the basis of anxieties among the workers in UAE. Moreover, pressures among employees emanate from the qualitative and quantitative overload as well as responsibility divergence of workers.
A number of factors have been identified as significant influencers of the performance, inspirations and output of workers in the GCC. Just to mention, concerns of tight work limits, organizational cultures, enormous workloads for employees as well as collision of roles are major contributors of low performance and stress among the workforce. The provision of flextime for the workers and maintenance of healthy living enable a work environment that is free from unnecessary pressures.
Methodology
The study proposal seeks to examine the relationship between employee productivity and work related stress and the different variables that affect this relationship in the United Arab Emirates. Most organizations particularly in UAE have not taken into consideration the impact of work related stress in employees’ performances.
Studies that have been done in this area indicate that there is negative correlation between work related stresses and the employees’ productivity. However, variables that affect this relationship particularly within the organizations in UAE have not been examined. In addition, the study on relationship between works related stress and employees’ productivity concentrating on the organizations within the UAE need to be conducted.
Therefore, this study is critical in determining whether the hypothesized relationship between employees’ productivity and the work related stresses also exists in the UAE. Moreover, the study is significant in determining the variables that affect this relationship within the organizations operating in UAE besides answering the research question.
In this proposed study, the research question is directly linked to the research aims and objectives to help accomplish the desired outcomes. The study methodology will utilize both primary and secondary data collection criteria to help in answering the research question. The secondary information will primarily be based on the reviewed literature regarding the topic of the study.
On the other hand, primary data collection method will include the sample design, sampling and sampling procedure, instrumentation, data collection and data analysis techniques. Other supportive areas including ethical consideration, significance of the study, accessibility, and the main deliverables are also discussed in this study proposal.
The study summary
The proposed study topic will be discussed through the data information collection methods particularly the findings of the empirical study that involves the primary data collection methods. However, the secondary information concerning literature review on the topic will also be given a greater consideration.
The reviewed literature will primarily be obtained through elaborated writing of various scholars expressing the findings on the study topic. The study aims and objectives as well as the hypothesis together with research questions will be answered by the research methodology applied in this study.
Besides primary and secondary data collection techniques, the methodology will focus on other aspects of the research including significance, accessibility, deliverables, ethical considerations, period and the sample and the sample design. The period will predict the duration of the study including the preparation of the study, duration of data collection and analysis as well as reporting and presentation of the results and the findings.
Most important is the budget and the required resources to accomplish the study. The budget will take into consideration the financial requirement of the study while resources will look into most important materials needed to accomplish the study.
The theoretical framework and the research paradigm
For this research to meet its obligations including the research questions, objectives and aims, it is designed to be an exploratory and quantitative study. The reason for the choice of this methodology is due to its innovation of novel ideas that is required in the understanding of the relationship between employee productivity and work related stress as well as the different variables that affect this relationship particularly in organizations operating within UAE.
Through exploratory study, the research will come up with new and clear concepts explaining the dynamics and processes involved in the relationships existing between the employees productivity and the work related stress as well as variables that affect this relationship. Moreover, the exploratory research will set up main concerns, build up on operational explanations and improve on the final research design (Maslach, 2002).
Secondary data
The secondary data collection is primarily the literature review on the proposed topic (Spector, 2006). The secondary data collection method focuses on the findings, discussions as well as the views of various scholars as well as authors on the proposed topic. The reason for reviewing such literature is to increase the knowledge of the concerned stakeholders on the proposed topic.
The literature review part of this study includes the objectives, the scope, aims, hypotheses as well as the study background. In essence, the secondary data tend to examine the theoretical aspects of the study through a critical analysis of the existing literature on the concerned topic.
Similarly, the secondary research data and information will accrue from the organizations’ records particularly on the employees’ productivity as well as any other documentation that have been filed by the organizations in relation to the work stresses. A review of the employees’ productivity and organizations success information, identified stresses as well as the effect of these stresses on the general employees’ performance will be evaluated to obtain secondary information.
Such research information will facilitate the ascertainment of whether the employees’ performances in those organizations are directly affected by the work stresses as well as the level of impact of these stresses on the relationship. Because the research majorly focuses on employees’ productivity and the working stresses factors, the correlations that exist between these two factors will amicably be sought (Cherry, 2008).
Primary data
The primary data will majorly be based on the quantitative research methodologies. The proposed study will utilize the survey method through the application of a questionnaire to obtain the required data. The requisite research data will be gathered across the study population consisting majorly of the employees of various organizations.
Though all the employees are deemed viable in this study, only a few selected through a sampling strategy will be interviewed concerning the research topic. The primary data is aimed at assisting in devising sound and rational study conclusions amid offering feasible recommendations for the research being conducted (Reeve & Smith, 2001).
In order to present significant research findings, appropriate conclusions, and credible recommendations, the proposed investigative study on the relationship between employee productivity and work related stress as well as the different variables that affect this relationship in the UAE would majorly use the primary data.
The primary research information and desired data for this novel proposed study will be obtained through administering self-designed survey questionnaires and conducting in-depth interviews to the study targeted population (Aguinis & Henle, 2002). In fact, the intentions of the study are to administer the questionnaires to the study participants through the application of online by choosing every third organization’s respondent initially incorporated in the study population.
Interview schedules that would be approved to help gather information on the impact of employee training on an organization’s success will equally be used to establish the relationship between employee productivity and work related stress and the different variables that affect this relationship in the United Arab Emirates.
The sample design
In this particular study, all the employees in the randomly chosen organizations within UAE will be deemed viable. However, only a small number of employees will be selected depending on the organizations records on how much they have been affected by the work stresses as well as other attributes including gender, age, experience and academic qualifications.
The organizations will be selected depending on their sizes, the number of employees and whether they are manufacturing or services oriented. In essence, the organizations should be large enough and have operated in the UAE long enough to have identified particular stresses and established how such stresses have affected the productivity of the employees.
From the total number of employees that will be sampled, just 65 workers from various organizations will be selected via a technique dubbed as convenience simple random sampling strategy and the research questionnaire will be administered to help in addressing the formulated research questions (Richey & Klein, 2008).
Accessibility
This proposed research and the literature review will be made accessible to all the companies operating in UAE through the online sources particularly to the organizations that are capable of funding the research study. However, the organizations that have direct involvement in the study will be provided with a copy of the final report.
Moreover, the study will be made available online through registered libraries and magazines to be accessed by various interested individuals. Increased accessibility will make companies and individuals become knowledgeable on the relationships existing between the work productivity and the stresses as well as how to deal with such problems in an organization.
Ethical considerations
Ethical considerations will be critical this proposed study particularly during the study. Before the study ethical issues that are likely to emerge will be looked. The ethical issues that are likely to arise include the informed consent of the participants, the power differences between the researcher and the participants, the confidentiality of the information as well as the consent of the concerned organizations (Munhall, 2008).
Looking into ways through which these ethical issues can be dealt with will be critical for the success of the study. An approval will be sought from the responsible authority particularly the company top management and safeguards will be put in place during and after the research study to help protect the respondents and any other human subjects (Punch, 2004).
In fact, both physical and emotional harm that may accrue will be given due consideration in this section by stating the basic ethical approach along with the power differentials between the researcher and the respondents as well as how the participants will be protected from any eminent abuses (Batchelor & Briggs, 2004). Finally, the information acquired from the study participants will be securely stored and protected whereas study-finding reports will not divulge the participants’ identification.
Deliverables
The study proposal tends to predict the relationship between the employees’ productivity and the work related stresses as well as variables that affect this relationship in organization operating the UAE. As indicated, the forecast relationship is negative. In other words, there are negative relationship between the work related stresses and the employees productivity.
Variables such as time, financial capabilities and health related issues are critical in determining the effect of this relationship. Therefore, it is critical for organizations as well as employees to understand how productivity is affected by the work related stresses as well as how these variables affect these relationships. Most importantly, organizations operating in UAE should come up with strategies that would avoid work stresses that have negative impact on employees’ productivity.
Time line
Time line is the duration the proposed study will take from the planning stage to reporting and presentation stage. The time line quantifies and provides a framework on how time will be spent during the study (Kumar, 2010). In this case, the planning period will take two weeks and one week will be allocated for the selection of organizations within UAE to be studied.
Additional four weeks will be allocated for sampling, framing the questionnaires and conducting the preliminary survey. A complete survey will take two weeks while analyzing the outcomes will take another one week. Two weeks will be needed for recommendations and the publication of the final report in case of approval by the concerned authorities.
Significance of the study
The significance of the study is to help organizations within UAE to understand the work related stresses and the way they affect employees’ productivity. The knowledge of the relationship between the employees productivity and the work related stresses will enable the organizations formulate strategies that will minimize the stresses and increases the productivity of employees which in turn augments the organizations performance.
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