EFFECT OF WORKFORCE DIVERSITY ON EMPLOYEE WORK PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MOMBASA

Abstract

Workforce diversity is a multi-faceted phenomenon that will continue to evolve as the world becomes a global marketplace. No doubt many believe workforce diversity is fundamental for employee performance. This study sought to find out the effect of workforce diversity on employee work performance, using the County Government of Mombasa. In the context of this study the term workforce diversity was defined as the similarities and differences among employees in terms of ethnic background, gender and education. These similarities and differences formed the independent variables of this study. Literature review was done and an attempt was made to link the various published studies with this study with a view to discovering how each variable impacted on employee work performance at the CGM. The study described the target population which comprised of employees of the CGM working in the County Assembly. Judgmental sampling technique was used to get respondents within the County Assembly. The researcher targeted 30 out of 59 employees of the County Assembly of the CGM. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and was descriptively analyzed. Data collected through the questionnaire was analyzed statistically by using the Software Package for Social Science (SPSS). It was then summarized using tables. The summarized responses were used to examine the effect of each variable on employee work performance. Correlation Coefficient analysis showed a significant level of association between performance and the tested variables of diversity. Interviews and observations were also used to gather information to aid the study. It became clear from the data analysis that workforce diversity is a well-accepted phenomenon at the CGM and that there was no discrimination detected resulting from ethnic, gender or educational background. The workforce was harmonious but without expectations of high or low performance based on an employee`s demographic background. An employee`s ethnic, gender and educational background did not have any contributory effect on performance. The objectives of the study were fulfilled with negative results for all the tested variables. It became evident that workforce diversity does not influence employee work performance at the County Government of Mombasa. This study could be a guideline for future studies. While diversity is an acceptable phenomenon, its variables of ethnicity, gender and educational background do not portray significant effect on performance, positively nor negatively. It is therefore important for the County to realize the need to capitalize on these demographic categories in order to stay ahead of other Counties. In order to fully understand the scenario at the CGM, further studies need to be conducted in order to unearth the challenges of employee work performance with a view to discovering what needs to be done to enable the County increase efficiency and make better, its service delivery to the residents.