Exploring the Impact of Work-related Stress in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry

For decades, work-related stress has been a global menace impacting workers and Organizations. Work-related stress also adversely affects workers’ health and productivity. Organizational leaders face the challenge of eliminating work-related stress to enhance profitability. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the impact of work-related stress in the petroleum industry, Niger Delta region, Nigeria. The study methodology was qualitative in nature and adopted multiple case study design. Participants were six supervisors who have successfully used strategies to reduce work-related stress in the Nigerian petroleum industry. Purposive sampling technique in qualitative research was adopted to reach participants. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and internal company documents relevant to reducing work-related stress and analyzed using thematic analysis. The responses of the research participants to the interview questions demonstrated a strong awareness of the negative impact of work-related stress. Work related stress leads to fatigue/ burnout, negative workers’ health and reduced profitability. Financial motivation, reduction of long working hours and excess workload; collaboration among the workers, supervisors, organizational leaders, and clients or customers and training on work life were suggested as a way forward.