Antecedents of Stress Perception in Healthcare Organizations

This research article investigates the work-related factors that contribute to perceived stress (SP) among employees in a large Swiss university hospital and examines how these factors influence employees' willingness to recommend their employer (WRE). Utilizing the Job Demands-Resources framework, the study analyzes survey data from over 5,500 respondents out of more than 13,000 employees. The findings indicate that resources such as value congruence, leadership, communication, and work schedule flexibility can alleviate stress and enhance WRE. In contrast, time constraints are identified as a significant demand that exacerbates stress and negatively impacts WRE. The study highlights the negative correlation between SP and WRE, suggesting that high stress levels can harm employee health and reduce the attractiveness of the organization. The implications of these findings are critical for human resource management in hospitals, particularly in light of current staffing shortages in the healthcare sector. The article also outlines the theoretical framework and methodology used in the research.