Bowen, P; Edwards, P and Lingard, H (2013) Workplace stress among construction professionals in South Africa the role of harassment and discrimination. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 20(6), pp. 620-635. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose-The discrimination/harassment experiences of survey respondents in different construction professional groups in SouthAfrica is compared, and the relationship between harassment/discrimination and perceived work stress is examined. Design/methodology/approach-An online survey was administered and 626 responses (ca. 6.5 per cent of target population) received. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the response data. Findings-Harassment and discrimination on ethnic grounds are experienced in all of the South African construction professions included in the survey. Respondents also indicated that they felt underpaid and that their job security was adversely affected by their ethnicity. Sexual harassment and gender-based harassment and discrimination were more frequently reported by architects than by other professionals. Harassment and discrimination were found to correlate with higher perceived levels of work stress. Research limitations/implications- Harassment and discrimination, on ethnic and on genderbased grounds, constitute a significant stressor for many construction professionals in South Africa, particularly among architects. Practical implications-Strategies designed to address and counter harassment/discrimination in the South African construction industry should be implemented or reinforced as part of broader stress management programmes. Employers have a major role to play in this, but unions and professional associations should also take part. Originality value-Previous research into work stress has focused on the experiences of workers in developed countries. The paper provides insight into the problem of harassment and discrimination in the unique situation of post-apartheid South Africa. It supports the link between harassment and discrimination and perceived levels of personal stress in this context.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction professionals paper type research paper; discrimination; harassment; South Africa; stress |
| Index terms: | workplace stress, statistics, construction industry, architect, profession, construction professional, programme, survey, strategy, work stress, research paper, South Africa, discrimination, developed country, population, methodology |
| Subjects: | psychology, mathematical modelling, research dissemination and communication, data collection methods, profession, institututions, demography, project controls, professional ethics, industry analysis, research methods, management, professional development, development economics, Geography |
| Topics: | Time Control, International Construction, Legal Issues, Urban Studies, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Information Management, Business Strategy, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here