S.N. Ghosh, Prakash Sankhyan and Pankhuri Bhatnagar
H.P. University, Shimla
Organizational stress has been an issue of concern as it leads to strain and negative
organizational and personal wellbeing. The present study intends to assess overall
stress and stress associated with various roles among the Technocrats of Himachal
State Electricity Board (HPSEB) and the coping mechanism they adopt to deal with
stresses ensuing these roles. A sample of 300 randomly selected male technocrats
(mean ± SD = 37.30 ± 5.27 years) participated in the study. The result suggested
that technocrats using avoidance mode of coping reported significantly higher overall
organizational role stress as compared to their counterparts using approach mode of
copying (df=221, t=2.21, p< .01). In terms of various components of organizational
role stress, technocrats using avoidance coping reported significantly higher stress
from experiencing inter role distance (df= 221, t= 2.83, p< .01), role isolation (df= 221
t=2.00, p<.05) and self-role distance (df=221, t=2.89, p< .01) as compared to workers
using approach coping. However, stress associated with role stagnation was reported
significantly higher by technocrats using approach mode of copying (df=22,t=2.27,
p<.05). It is evident that employees adopt avoidance mode of copying to deal with overall
organizational role stress along with components of role stress. This is a dysfunctional
coping mechanism that offers short term relief. The study attributes avoidance coping
to higher overall stress experienced by technocrats along with stresses emanating from
conflict due to performing multiple roles on and off the job, conflict arising from concept
of self and demands of the role and feeling of being isolated in the set of organizational
roles. Workers adopting approach mode of coping reported higher stress due to role
stagnation i.e. stuck at a position for a longer period. The present study suggests that
curative measures must be adopted through regular stress audit programmes and by
creating awareness on functional mechanisms of coping to deal with organizational
stress and its various components.