Work Place Stress and Employee Wellbeing Among Staff of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, Nigeria

This study examined workplace stress and employee well-being among academic and non-academic staff of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study assessed the level of workplace stress among staff, examined the organizational and individual factors contributing to workplace stress, investigated the influence of workplace stress on employee well-being, and assessed the role of coping mechanisms and organizational support in managing workplace stress. The study adopted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, comprising a quantitative cross-sectional survey followed by a qualitative phase. The study population consisted of 2,345 academic and non-academic staff of Auchi Polytechnic. A sample of 350 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula, with 206 academic staff and 144 non-academic staff selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure involving stratification, proportional allocation, and simple random sampling. The qualitative phase employed purposive sampling to select staff for interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, regression analysis, independent-samples t-test, and analysis of variance where appropriate, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings indicate that workplace stress is a significant concern among staff of Auchi Polytechnic and is associated with a combination of organizational and individual factors. Major sources of stress include workload, teaching and research responsibilities, administrative demands, student supervision, accreditation activities, inadequate resources, infrastructural challenges, and changing institutional requirements. The findings further indicate that workplace stress has important implications for employee well-being, particularly in physical, psychological, and emotional dimensions. Academic and non-academic staff experience workplace stress in different ways because of differences in their occupational responsibilities. The study also found that coping mechanisms such as problem-solving, time management, emotional regulation, positive thinking, relaxation, and social support can assist employees in managing workplace pressures, although individual coping strategies are more effective when supported by favorable organizational conditions. The study concludes that workplace stress and employee well-being are closely interconnected and that effective stress management requires both individual and organizational interventions. The study recommends improved workload management, adequate staffing and workplace resources, stronger supervisory and organizational support, employee counselling and assistance services, regular stress-management programmes, professional development opportunities, and policies that promote a healthier work-life balance. These measures are expected to contribute to improved employee well-being, job satisfaction, productivity, and overall institutional effectiveness at Auchi Polytechnic.