Digitalization and Job Stress: A Comparative Analysis of Public and Private Bank Employees in Bangalore

Abstract

Abstract: The hyper-digitalization of the Indian banking sector, accelerated by FinTech integration, core banking solutions, Unified Payment Interfaces (UPI) and artificial intelligence driven customer analytics, has radically altered organizational dynamics and work environments. While digitalization has improved operational speed, transaction volume and customer convenience, it has introduced novel occupational challenges, collectively known as 'technostress'. This study presents a robust empirical and comparative analysis of job stress induced by digitalization among 340 employees (170 public sector bank employees and 170 private sector bank employees) across Bangalore City, India's primary technology and financial hub. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model and the Technostress Creator Framework, the research investigates five critical techno-stressors: techno-overload, techno-invasion, techno-complexity, techno-insecurity and techno-uncertainty. Primary data collected via structured questionnaire were subjected to rigorous statistical evaluation, including Cronbach's alpha reliability tests, independent sample t-tests, Chi-Square test of independence, multiple linear regression, moderation analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The empirical results reveal that  private  sector  bank  employees  exhibit  significantly  higher levels  of overall digitalization stress (Mean = 3.94) compared to their public sector counterparts (Mean = 3.48; t = -6.12, p<0.001), primarily driven by aggressive digital sales targets, constant real-time tracking, techno-invasion and job insecurity. Conversely, public sector bank employees report acute stress stemming from techno-complexity, rapid system updates without adequate training, legacy system integration bottlenecks and compliance pressures. Regression and SEM analyses demonstrate that techno-overload and techno-invasion are the strongest predictors of occupational burnout and diminished job performance across both sectors. Moderation analysis further proves that organizational support mechanisms and adaptive individual coping strategies significantly attenuate the adverse impact of technostress on employee performance. The paper concludes with actionable managerial strategies, ergonomic digital interventions and policy frameworks aimed at fostering a sustainable, digitally resilient work culture in metropolitan banking institutions.