CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

In the past decades, office maintenance were seen as only typing of corresponding and writing of shorthand. But in this 21th century, the introduction and advancement of technology has helped to widen the scope, knowledge, skills and secretarial competences of our present day secretaries. The duties of modern day secretaries do not only involve typing of letters and writing shorthand but it has advanced in a way that secretaries manage and take care of the boss’s daily it nerary and schedules, taking of minutes, report writing, preparing of agenda for the meeting, receiving of visitors etc.

In organizations, secretaries are life wire of the organizations; they help the employers to efficiently and effectively achieve the goals and objectives of the organizations.

Moreover, productivity can be linked with the efficiency with which things are produced therefore high level of productivity in an organization is as a result of their introduction of technology and office machines when work is done manually, there is low level of productivity and increase in stress, but the introduction of office machines and equipment has greatly influenced the achievement of organizational goals and it has served as a measure of stress management.

Many organizations, as a result of stressful conditions have closed down while some are at the verge of collapse. One of the vital and serious problems facing the organization is stress. In an organization, the low level of stress determines the high level of productivity. When secretaries experience stress, it can cause nervous system breakdown including palpitation, high blood pressure etc. These symptoms suffered by secretaries because of effects their productivity or their output. Therefore, stress management is very vital to functioning of organizations, so as to increase productivity, better the memory and improve immune system of workers and better blood pressure, as well as create job satisfaction.

Statement of the Problem

The staff of AkanuIbiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana, both academic and non-academic staff serve as the life wire of the institution, as they mirror and champion the daily ruuning of this great institution. They also spend great time in official duties.

As a result of many activities performed by the office managers to ensure the growth of the institution, it has made them to suffer series of breakdowns due to stress. Another problem this study wants to identify is the what extent the institution deals with the stress their employees are going through as a result of overload, malfunctioning equipment, non provision of light and irregular payment to get work done fast and reduce stress. The researcher therefore want to tackle the problem as enumerated above.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to identify:

1. The causes of stress on office managers of AkanuIbiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana.
2. The effect of stress on secretaries.
3. The ways of implementation stress management in AkanuIbiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana.

Research Questions

The following research questions were formulated to guide the study:

1. What are the causes of stress on secretaries?
2. What are the effects of stress on a secretaries staff of AkanuIbiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana?
3. What are the ways of implementing stress management in an organization like polytechnic Unwana?