Effects of Workplace Stress on Employees’ Work Performance a Case of Iringa Municipal Office in Tanzania

The research evaluated the effects of workplace stress on employee performance at the Iringa Municipal Council Office (IMC) in Iringa Municipality, concentrating on identifying stressors, analyzing the correlation between stress and performance, and investigating methods to mitigate stress. A sample of 69 respondents was obtained using qualitative and quantitative research approaches, including stratified random selection, while three top management personnel were chosen for interviews through purposive sampling. The data collection used questionnaires and interviews, which were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation using SPSS Version 22. The instruments’ reliability and validity were verified by the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure, Bartlett’s test of sphericity, and Cronbach’s alpha. The findings revealed that employees were more influenced by personal and personal concerns than by employment-related stress, while workplace stress still affected their performance. The study advocated for the implementation of employee assistance programs, counselling services, recreational activities, and workplace human formation initiatives to effectively manage stress. It additionally recommended that Iringa Municipal council office (IMC) improve its stress management practices and implement regular stress reduction programs. Suggestions for subsequent research were also offered.