The Effects of Work Overload on Job Performance at Zuva Petroleum Private Limited in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The aim of this research was to establish the effects of work overload on employees’ job performance at Zuva Petroleum Private Limited. A sample of 50 respondents out of a population of 101 employees was targeted. Stratified random sampling was used to give the different employees’ categories a fair representation in the survey. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was also tested to ensure the validity of the results. The questionnaire was tested on its reliability and validity and results showed that all the key variables, that is, work overload and job performance were reliable with their Cronbach’s Alpha values greater than 0.6 as shown in Table 4.9. The research revealed that there is a relationship between work overload and job performance. This implies that work overload influences the job performance of an employee. This was also confirmed by the hypothesis tests, which confirmed the same as indicated by the significant correlation between the two variables, that is, work overload and job performance. The research further provided guidance to companies for ways or strategies that can be put in place to cope with the work overload issues. It was also gathered that there is work overload at Zuva Petroleum which has affected employees’ job performance. This work-overload influenced work life balance, which in turn has a negative impact on job performance and productivity. Thus, the research concluded that work overload had effect on job performance and there was also a relationship between work overload and performance. The research did not explicitly relate work overload to overall company performance but limited itself to employee job performance. It is possible that the company was performing well under the circumstances articulated by respondents in this research, which circumstances fell far short from ideal. It is therefore incumbent upon future researchers in this area, possibly within the same company, to seek empirical relationships between specifically work overload and company performance.