“OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT IN PAKISTAN’S BANKING, IT, AND EDUCATION SECTORS: A SECTORAL AND GENDER-BASED ANALYSIS”

Abstract

This research study looks into the occupational stress and organizational commitment of employees from Pakistan's Banking, IT, and Education sectors. The paper utilizes the framework of GGC Theory to analyze the stress and commitment aspects on the cultural, sectoral, and gender levels. A set of 300 employee responses was analyzed via SPSS, while qualitative insights were derived from 15 managerial interviews. Results indicated very high sectoral and gender differences. Bankers felt the most stress and lowest levels of affective commitment. The culture in banking was described as a little more high-grid and extremely competitive. Educators were experiencing fewer stressful feelings with higher affective commitment as they are functioning within a much more group-based and teamwork-driven context. Gender differences highlighted female workers as having experienced the greatest levels of stress regarding work-life issues; no differences existed with regards to commitment between the two sexes. The findings therefore warrant sector-specific and gender-sensitive HR strategies, such as stress management programs and work-life balance policies, particularly where demands are high, such as in the health and social sector. Recommendations argue that organizational supports need to be designed and implemented to improve employees' well-being and commitment.