Occupational stress has become a serious concern in contemporary organizations, especially in service-oriented sectors such as insurance. Employees working in private life insurance companies face constant pressure due to high sales targets, performance-based incentives, customer expectations, long working hours, and job insecurity. These factors significantly contribute to occupational stress, which in turn affects employee well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational performance.
The present study aims to analyze the level of occupational stress among employees working in private life insurance companies in Kerala and to identify the major factors responsible for such stress. The study is based on primary data collected from 200 employees using a structured questionnaire. A descriptive research design was adopted, and statistical tools such as percentage analysis, mean score analysis, and correlation analysis were used to interpret the data.
The findings reveal that the majority of employees experience moderate to high levels of occupational stress. Workload, sales target pressure, work-life imbalance, and job insecurity are identified as the major stressors. The study also reveals a negative relationship between work experience and occupational stress, indicating that experienced employees are better able to manage stress. The study concludes with suggestions to reduce occupational stress and improve employee well-being and productivity.