Workplace Stress and Its Effect on Employees: An Empirical Study at Kothari Sugars and Chemicals Ltd., Trichy, India
Workplace Stress and Its Effect on Employees: An Empirical Study at Kothari Sugars and Chemicals Ltd., Trichy, India
Authors:
Mr. C. Dharun 1 | Dr. S. Sreeja 2
Student 1 | Assistant Professor 2
Department of Management Studies (MBA)
Hindusthan College of Engineering & Technology, Coimbatore
ABSTRACT
Workplace stress has emerged as a critical occupational health challenge with profound implications for employee well-being and organizational productivity. This paper presents an empirical investigation into the nature, causes, and consequences of workplace stress among employees of Kothari Sugars and Chemicals Ltd. (KSCL), a leading agro-industrial enterprise located in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India. A descriptive research design was adopted, employing a structured questionnaire administered to 120 employees selected through convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using percentage analysis, Chi-square test, Pearson correlation, and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The findings reveal that a significant majority of employees experience moderate to high levels of occupational stress attributable to workload, rigid organizational rules, inadequate salary, night shift demands, and concerns regarding job security. The Chi-square test confirmed a statistically significant association between salary levels and satisfaction with overtime compensation. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a strong positive relationship (r = 0.935, p < 0.01) between educational qualification and perceived job autonomy. ANOVA results indicated a statistically significant relationship between employee age and preferred stress-coping mechanisms (F = 436.948, p < 0.001). The study concludes with actionable recommendations including targeted counselling programmes, equitable workload distribution, yoga and meditation initiatives, and enhanced financial support mechanisms. These findings contribute to the literature on occupational stress management in agro-industrial contexts and offer practical guidance for HR practitioners and organizational policymakers.
Keywords — Workplace Stress; Occupational Health; Stress Management; Sugar Industry; Employee Well-being; ANOVA; Chi-square Analysis