Blended working, occupational stress and employee engagement among lecturers of Makerere University during Covid-19.

Abstract

The major purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between Blended Working, Occupational stress, and Employee Engagement among lectures of Makerere University. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the relationship between Blended working and occupational stress, to examine the relationship between occupational stress and Employee Engagement, and finally to examine the relationship between Blended working and Employee Engagement of lecturers at Makerere University. A Correlational study design was used in the study to establish the relationship between Blended working, Occupational stress, and Employee Engagement among the lecturers of Makerere University. From the research, it was discovered that there was no significant relationship between Blended working and occupational stress. This concluded that the major cause of occupational stress among the lecturers of Makerere University during COVID-19 pandemic could have come from a number of other issues other than blended working method. Also, it was concluded that there was no significant relationship between Blended working and Employee Engagement. This could have been as a result of resilience among the lecturers as well as willingness to accept change. Finally, there was also no significant relationship between Occupational stress and Employee Engagement. This research implied that high levels of occupational stress alone could not sufficiently contribute to reduction in Employee Engagement, among some lecturers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a number of many other work related factors could collectively bring about reduced employees Engagement among lecturers.