ABSTRACT

Job stress may be referred to the body’s reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response to work responsibilities. Job stress is considered as the harmful physical and emotional response that occurs when there is a poor match between job demand and capability, resource or need of the employee. Job satisfaction describes how comfortable an individual is with own job. The objective of the research is to examine the effect of job stress and job stressors on job satisfaction among employees of private banks in Wolaita zone, Ethiopia. Based on review of literature conceptual framework for this study was designed. Job stress factors include Work overload, Role conflict, Role ambiguity, Physical environment, Superior support, Peer support are taken as independent variables and Satisfaction of employees with the job is dependent variable. The study has been conducted on the basis of the primary data collected through structured questionnaire. The research design has been taken to be causal. The measurement scale for the instrument is considered five point Likert scale representing the intervals. The study is being carried out at eleven private banks situated at Wolaita zone, Ethiopia.  The study was conducted between Sep, 2017 and Jan, 2018. The population of this study is the employees working in branches of six private banks located at Wolaita zone. There were total 254 employees working in these branches which constitute the respondents of the study. Out of total population of 254 employees working in eleven banks’ branches only 216 employees could be contacted, so the study incorporates the responses of these 216 bank employees. The regression result shows that Work overload, Role conflict, Superior support and Peer support have significant predictor of job satisfaction of employees of private banks while physical environment and Role ambiguity are not the significant predictor of job satisfaction of employees of private banks. Out of six job stressors Superior support followed by Peer support is strongest predictor of employees of private banks in Wolaita zone, Ethiopia. Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, it is recommendation that for improving job satisfaction the superior must support their subordinates in solving their problems as well as the work problems. The superiors should try to create the environment of peer cooperation. Closer relationships among employees may result in more social support at work. Cooperative organizational culture and supervisor’s attention to employees will be effective in enhancing job satisfaction. The superior should try to lessen the work overload at individual level by properly distributing the work among employees.

Key words: Job Stress, Work Overload, Role Conflict, Role Ambiguity, Job Autonomy, Relationship at Work, Physical Environment, Job Satisfaction