IMPACT OF WORKPLACE QUALITY ON EMPLOYEE’S PRODUCTIVITY
A CASE STUDY OF BRITANNIA ALLIED INDUSTRIES
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The current challenge of the management is to establish a workplace that effect, affect, attract, retain and to motivate its employees for maximization of productivity. This responsibility is lies with the mangers and governance at various levels of the organization. They have to think over and explore the new working ways through which people can enjoy, feel like and have pride about what they do. The work workplace affects employee morale, productivity and engagement- both positively and negatively and it may affect largely on both physical and psychological well-being.
Higher salaries and compensation benefits may seem the most likely way to attract employees. However, quality of the physical workplace environment may also have a strong influence on a company’s ability to recruit and retain talented people Some factors in workplace environment may be considered keys affecting employee’s engagement, productivity, morale, comfort level etc. both positively and negatively (Ryan and Deci, 2000).
Chandrasekar (2011) emphasizes that creating a work environment in which employees are productive is essential to increased profits for an organization, corporation or small business. Principles of management dictate that, to maximize employee morale center around two major areas of focus: personal motivation and the infrastructure of the work environment.
Birtch (2010) argues that work systems cannot only affect commitment, competence, cost effectiveness and congruence but also have long term consequence for workers’ well being; there is some evidence to indicate that work systems designs may have effects on physical health, mental health and longevity of life itself. The mind and body need to be in a state of health and well-being for work and concentration. This is a prime prerequisite for morale. High morale brings a sense of achievement for the individual as well as increased profits for the work organization (Al-Anzi, 2009).
Hasun & Makhbul (2005) defines work environment as “an entirety” which comprises the totality of forces, actions and other influential factors that are currently and/or potentially contending with the employee’s activities and performance.
Britania Allied Industries Ltd. is located in Kampala, Uganda. Company is working in Food retailers, Bakers business activities. The roots of the Britania started in 1985.The work of Dawda Hasmukh was noticed by the President and for that he was invited to start a fruit processing plant under Britania Foods and Juices. This opened the door to fruit farming to about 6,000 small scale farmers from a 30 per cent yield, it jointly grew the yields to over 70 per cent and created a market for the farmers. The organization engaged the farmers in pineapple, banana; cassava and maize production, and has a farm that caters for thousands of children through his Universal Human Service Trust as part of giving back to the community.
Britania Allied Industries has created an effort towards developing a motivated workforce for the purpose of improving productivity in the organization as employees’ income changes, money ceases to be a motivational factor; and as employees grow older, interesting work becomes a motivational factor. Britania has increased wages for employees, given further on-job training as one way of improving productivity (Dawda, 2014).
The quality of work depends upon safe and healthy working conditions in determining employee’s job behavior. The organizational climate is an important indicator of employee behavior as a combination of social and psychological factors. It is found that working conditions are attached with employees’ job involvement and job satisfaction that ultimately leads to better performance of the employees (Scott et al., 2000).
The working environment is perhaps a key root causing employee’s engagement or disengagement and Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports is no exception. Improving the working environment reduces complaints and absenteeism while increasing morale (Roelofsen, 2002).Wells (2000) states that workplace satisfaction has been associated with job satisfaction. In recent years, employees comfort on the job, determined by workplace conditions and environment has been recognized as an important factor for measuring their morale.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Britannia Allied Industries has many problems encountered by employees with regards to their environment, and other factors like poor physical conditions in an office, lack of private office. Sometimes, where one is lucky to be assigned any, there is always no privacy. In some organizations, an employee may be lucky to have a private office, but that office will be an entrance to his/ her boss’s office (Douglas, 2013). Thus, the study seeks to examine the impact of workplace quality on employee productivity, a case study of Britannia Allied Industries.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to examine the impact of workplace quality on employee productivity, a case study of Britannia Allied Industries.
The study will be guided by the following objectives.
- To identify how physical office environment influence employees productivity.
- To establish the factors affecting employee productivity.
- To recommend ways of improving workplace to increase employee productivity.
- How does physical office environment influence employee productivity?
- What factors affect employee productivity?
- What approaches can be adopted to improve the work environment for employee morale & morale?
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study will be to examine the impact of workplace quality on employee productivity, a case study of Britannia Allied Industries. The study will be carried out at Britania allied industries. It has a very attractive location with medical services around which is located on Plot M247B, Ntinda Industrial Area, P.O. BOX 7518, Kampala – Uganda. The study will be carried out for a period of four months from February – May, 2017.
The study will be of the helpful to the employers that might find the findings of this study relevant to their organizations.
The study will be highlighting the benefits and how they subsequently influence employee output this means that it will be a basis for knowledge.
The study is relevant to other scholars who are presented with factual information on the relevance of employee output or productivity.
These findings will improve employees’ performance at the workplace, to retain employees and to help companies establish a good image as required by the government of Uganda.
