OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS OUTCOMES: EVIDENCE FROM SELECTED MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATIONS IN LAGOS METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Purpose: The study investigated the relationship between occupational stress and industrial relations outcomes using the manufacturing organizations in Lagos Metropolis as the unit of analysis. The study identified two dimensions of occupational stress (psychological and physiological stress) and four industrial relations outcomes (quit, absenteeism, industrial actions, and management-employee relations). Methodology: The study made use of multi-sampling techniques for the preservation of the characteristics and status of the respondents and the research questionnaire was administered randomly to the selected sample size of 363 respondents. Findings and implications: It was found that there exists a positive and significant relationship between and among all the variables of occupational stress and industrial relations outcomes with absenteeism as the potent force. It was concluded that occupational stress is dominant and permanent in the selected manufacturing organizations and manifested in the form of absenteeism. Limitations: The study concentrated on the Lagos Metropolis, but further studies can look farther into other geopolitical zones in Nigeria to further expand the frontier of knowledge in the area of study. Originality: The study provides a more comprehensive understanding of occupational stress dimensions on industrial relations outcomes, thus, expanding the existing literature in the area of study.