Job Demand, Social Support, and Work Stress Among Employees in A Shared Services Company

A survey on the job demand, social support and work stress was conducted in a shared services and outsourcing company. The objectives of the study was to study the contribution of job demand on work stress of employees from Shared Services and Outsourcing (SSO) company; to study the influence of social support on work stress of employees from SSO company; and to study the relationship between job demand, social support, and work stress of employees from SSO company. Based on the literature reviews a model of relationship was proposed to study the relationship between job demand, social support, and work stress. Sixty out of 140 contacted employees had responded. The correlation analysis indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between job demand and work stress. There was no relationship found in between social support and work stress. Regression analysis revealed that job demand was good predictor in the effect on work stress in this study while social support was not. Data analysis also indicated that higher job demand will increase the perceived level of work stress. On the other hand, social support in general did not influence the perceived level of work stress. Recommendations for workplace management were presented based on the findings of the study. The limitation of the study and suggestion for future research on work stress were also discussed.