Employment Conditions on Employee Productivity

Introduction

The main purpose of devising and improving employee productivity is to increase efficiency, and these results partly form better industrial relations. If people are in suitable jobs, they are more likely to contend with their work, and this will react favorably to the output directly and will promote cooperative relations. Conducive employment conditions environment stimulates the creativity of workers. Non-improvement in the work environment and bad working conditions contribute to low productivity of employees because employees lack the motivation to give their individual best towards production.

A favorable working condition is one of the most important factors that boost employee productivity, and the level of interaction amongst the employee, employer, and superiors gingers the employees to be either effective or otherwise. According to Likert (1959), the contribution of working conditions to an individual’s job satisfaction varies widely, but generally, it is considered relatively small. Other things employees complain about include health and safety measures against accidents and fire, sanitation, and suggestion system. In Nigeria's private companies, the plight of workers reflects Fredrick Taylor’s thesis on factory management which states that in the past, the man had been first, and in the future, the system comes first.

Fredrick Taylor says that managers are technically oriented. Greater emphasis is placed on output, higher production, and cost savings, no matter the human cost that may be involved in the process of achieving their objectives. For this to be achieved, there must be a constant improvement in working conditions which covers claims for higher wages, shorter hours of work, holiday arrangements and pay incentives and bonuses, etc. Adequate grievance procedures and provisions for arbitration over disputes are further safeguarded.

Under the 1979 constitution, it is provided that the objectives of the Nigerian states are geared towards ensuring that:

1. The health, safety, and welfare of all persons in employment are safeguarded and not endangered or abused;
2. Conditions of work are just and humane while there are facilities for leisure and for social, religious, and cultural life.
3. Opportunities are provided for citizens to secure adequate means of livelihood and suitable employment and
4. There are adequate medical and health facilities for all persons.

According to Mayedeo and Markak, productivity may be defined as the ratio between the production of a given commodity measured by volume and one more of the corresponding input factor measured by volume. A look at the above definition shows that productivity is made up of labor, raw materials, or a combination of many factors. It should be however said that the productivity of labor has been the main concern. The ratio of the output of the factor is the measure of productivity in relation to the particular factor of production.

Production = Output of Production

Input of Labour
P = O/M
Where `p’ = Productivity
O = Output
M = Man hours put in

This research aims at investigating, examining, and analyzing employment conditions and their effect on employees in an industrial organization on their rate of productivity. Productivity is a vital and major concept to every industrial organization. As a matter of fact, no organization would be able to achieve its goals if the matter of productivity is neglected. It has also been argued that the labor aspect is the most vital without which the organization would be far from reaching the desired goals. Even in the committee of nations, productivity is a major tool for development.

Productivity took a new dimension with the industrial revolution where productivity transcended mere subsistence. High productivity in industries is highly important as a result of the fact that it is a necessary condition for organizational sustenance and continuity in addition to an improved standard of living. It is worthy of mention that industrialization is an advancement of work. Work itself is seen as an effort or activity carried out for personal or organizational sustenance. Much expectation is attached to the concept of work, in addition to the provision of economic security. Work makes life meaningful and gives the feeling of self-actualization and acceptance to the worker in an industrial environment. However, the importance of work elucidated above working in the Nigerian industrial environment has not been that easy in recent times.

So many things come into play that affects workers in the process of their daily activities as far as working condition are concerned. These challenges often force industrial workers to feel concerned about some important working conditions such as pay, the physical environment, safety, participation in decision-making, career development /progression, health, etc.

Statement of problem

In a situation whereby the working environment is not conducive enough for the employees, there may be a setback in the production level. A number of problems may arise while trying to create good working conditions. This may include a good salary package, incentives, and bonuses, a good insurance policy, allowance, a cordial relationship between the superior and subordinate, and good compensation.

The organization must make sure that the working conditions are favorable so as to motivate the employee without any grudges toward achieving the organizational goals and objectives. Some of the problems that will make an employee less productive will include Low job satisfaction, inadequate communication, poor employee/management relationship, neglect of job analysis, autocratic management style, weak union structure, and arbitrary change of work rules.

Aims and objectives of the study

The purpose of the study will include:

To find out the extent to which employment conditions and employee productivity can be improved and the impact in on Cadbury Nigeria Plc. To find out how a well-carried-out job analysis improves productivity in Cadbury Nigeria Plc. To examine the type of leadership style and the relationship between the management and employees To determine the extent of labor turnover in relation to working conditions in Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

Research questions

The research questions of the study will include:

1. What leadership style is being adopted by the management of Cadbury Nigeria Plc.?
2. Is there any relationship between social interaction and employee productivity?
3. How can working conditions influence employee productivity in Cadbury Nigeria Plc?
4. Is there a direct relationship between working conditions and employee productivity?
5. Does wage rate determine employee productivity?

Research hypothesis

H₀: There is no direct relationship between working conditions and employee productivity.

H₁: There is a direct relationship between working conditions and employee productivity.

H₀: There is no positive relationship between social interaction and employee productivity.

H₁: There is a positive relationship between social interaction and employee productivity.

H₀: Employees are not satisfied with the working conditions and are likely to express the need to leave the organization.

H₁: Employees are satisfied with the working conditions and are likely to express the need to leave the organization.

Significance of study

The study shows that productivity is a very essential factor in any organization. There is a need for the parties to strive hard to ensure that a well-carried-out job increases productivity and it should be adhered to especially at the company level and there is the pursuit of rendering excellent services to customers. This research seeks to find out why expected returns are not accruing to some organizations while others are reaping the fruit of their labor. The research is also of particular interest in finding out whether employees with the best performance are expressed within the range of their working conditions.

Scope of study

This study is limited in scope to finding the impact of working conditions on employee productivity. This study additionally identifies productivity-related problems confronting organizations with the intention of providing relevant solutions to them. This study is focused on the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco industry. This is one of the growing industries in Nigeria's economy and Cadbury Nigeria Plc. is chosen. It is chosen with the belief that it will provide us with an overview of the performance assessment exercise in the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco industry.

Literature review

A literature review is very important and crucial to any research work. This is because the review of literature provides us with guidance and exposes us to other works that have been done in any particular field. It facilitates insight into the understanding of the subject matter of research. Here, various opinions shall be discussed so as to make it easy for other researchers who wish to embark on the same subject matter. Relevant and current literature will be reviewed.

Brenner argued for modeling the work environment to improve employees’ productivity calls for management responsibilities of holding everything together, improving motivation, and creating commitment in the work environment. He postulated the PRIDE model, which managers can use in order to be successful in modeling the work environment. Providing a work environment that simultaneously achieves company goals and employees’ goal involves motivating such a work environment with quality of work life.

This involves giving employees opportunities for their personal growth, achievement, responsibility, recognition, and reward so as to get high-quality productivity from employees. According to Yesufu, the nature of the physical condition under which employees work is important to output. Offices and factories that are too hot and ill-ventilated are debilitating to the effort. There should be enough supply of good protective clothing, drinking water, restrooms, toilets, first aid facilities, etc. Both management and employees should be safety conscious at all times and the minimum requirements of the factories act must be respected.

Research Methodology

This shall highlight the method that will be employed in gathering relevant information and analyzing such information. The areas that would be covered include the research population, sample size, research design, research instrument, re-statement of hypothesis, method of data collection, and method of data analysis.

The population of this research is based on the food, beverage, and tobacco industry, while the sample is Cadbury Nigeria Plc. The research instrument to be adopted will involve the use of questionnaires and interviews. A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents.

Sample and sampling techniques

The whole population cannot be studied, thus a sample was drawn to represent the population. The finding from the study of the sample shall be generalized for the entire population; all employees of Cadbury Nigeria Plc. They will be given an equal and independent chance of being selected and included in the sample,

Data analysis and interpretation

Data analysis and interpretation is the life-wire of any research study, an attempt will be made to classify responses according to sex, age, educational level, marital status, length of service, and current salary grade. Simple Random Sampling shall be employed in analyzing the collected data whereby each individual is chosen randomly and entirely by chance, such that each individual has the same probability of being chosen at any stage during the sampling process.

Definition of terms

1. Job satisfaction. Is in regard to one's feelings or state of mind regarding the nature of their work. Job satisfaction can be influenced by a variety of factors, eg, the quality of one's relationship with their supervisor, the quality of the physical environment in which one works, the degree of fulfillment in their work, etc.
2. Arbitration. A non-court procedure for resolving disputes using one or more neutral third parties — called the arbitrator or arbitration panel. Arbitration uses rules of evidence and procedure that are less formal than those followed in trial courts, which usually leads to a faster, less-expensive resolution.
3. Leadership style. Leadership style is the manner and approach of providing direction, implementing plans, and motivating people.
4. Productivity. Productivity is the relative efficiency of economic activity—that is, the number of products or services produced compared to the number of goods and labor used to produce them. It can also be said to be the number of goods and services that a worker produces in a given amount of time.
5. Working conditions. Working conditions are the safety and healthfulness of the workplace, including the physical work environment and the procedures followed in performing the work.

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Employment Conditions on Employee Productivity. (2016, Aug 07). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/employment-conditions-on-employee-productivity/

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