Abstract
The health of people in the work place -in all sectors- has been an important issue for
sometime, and there is substantial evidence that the workplace can have an impact upon
employee health – both positive and negative. As a result, the management of employee
well-being has become a priority for all types of organizations. (Arnold et al, 2010 p 433)
The degree of competition in the economy has becomes more intense as a result of the recent
recession, therefore no job is stress free. Everyone in the workplace experiences some kind of
stress be it in relation to the job or in relation to the general work environment. (Swaminathan
and Rajkumar 2013)
Information Technology has created a positive impact on the lives of millions across the
globe. Today a country’s IT potential is paramount in its march towards global
competitiveness, and is a huge driver of growth. (IBEF, no date)
Stress is an inevitable factor in the life of an employee in the IT sector. It affects the
performance of an employee and detracts the ability of the employee to contribute to the
organization. The effects of stress at work are an important area of concern among the top
management of many business organizations today.
This study analyzes the causes of stress and its impact on absenteeism among IT employees
in Ireland and India. It also examines various coping strategies adopted by IT employees in
Ireland and India. The study also analyzes the impact of stress management intervention on
stress among employees of IT companies in both countries. The study was conducted among
109 employees working in the IT sector in India and Ireland using survey in the form of self
administered questionnaires and found a) factors intrinsic to the job b) organizational
structure and climate and c) role of the employee in the organization as the major causes of
stress among the IT employees in both countries. The study also found that more of the
respondents did not have any access to stress management interventions, and that stress did
not have any significant impact on absenteeism. Author keywords: Stress, occupational stress, absenteeism, coping strategies, work-life balance, productivity, stress management interventions
