Continuous Unplanned Changes and Stress in Greek Public Sector due to Economic Crisis
Anna Maria Mouza

Abstract
The aim of this study is to determine the main factors influencing the perceived stress levels of public servants due to the recent unplanned changes in Greece. Responses from 811 public servants were obtained to determine the effects of newly imposed legal and operational reforms on stress in relation to demographic variables. Logistic regression was applied given that work stress due to organizational changes was identified as a binary variable. It was found that women, the less educated, low-level and permanent employees experienced higher levels of stress compared to the other categories. Exogenous factors related to the new imposed reforms in working conditions due to the economic crisis (job insecurity, personnel reductions, workload, demands for highly educated employees, decrease on wages) and negative socioeconomic consequences (high levels of unemployment, expensive standard of leaving, high taxation, mortgage repayment difficulties) are the ones increasing the employees’ stress, which they cannot control and easily cope with.

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