Occupational stress in management consulting firms in Nairobi
Abstract
The World Health Organization has called job stress a "worldwide epidemic". The stress
levels associated with many jobs are now rated as worryingly high. The aim of this study
was to address the issue of stress from the human resources management point of view.
The specific objectives were to establish the sources of occupational stress to the
employees of management consulting firms in Nairobi; to establish how the employees of
management consulting firms in Nairobi deal with occupational stress; and to establish how
management consulting firms in Nairobi deal with occupational stress among their
employees.
Manaqernent consulting firms were chosen because management advisory had been
identified to be among the most stressful occupations in the developed countries. Also they
have a potential for helping other organisations during the course of their interactions in
offering management advice.
The study used an exploratory research design where questionnaires were sent to the
management and employees of the firms in the sample. Interviews were also conducted
with the management.
The results indicate that occupational stress is not only a function of the nature of the job but
also the social and economic environment of the workers. In Kenya, among the
management consulting firms, the highest stressors have to do with relationships with
authority and partiality pracjjces. They also show that spirituality and social support systems
are highly used as buffers against occupational stress. The results also revealed that the
management and the employees have different views on what the organisation is doing in
reducing stress. Overall the management thought very highly of their organisation's efforts
while the employees responses did not indicate such a position.
Citation
Gachare JW,October 2000;Occupational Stress In Management Consulting Firms In Nairobi.Publisher
University of Nairobi Faculty of commerce