Workforce Diversity and Employees’ Performance in the Ministry Of Lands and Physical Planning, Kenya

Abstract

Workforce diversity is an imperative tool that corporate organizations can employ to enhance their performance, employee morale and satisfaction, generate inherent and innovative ideas and increase their competitive edge in the business cycles. The move to embrace workforce diversity in government ministries and parastatals would promote the culture of innovativeness, creativity and invention thus transforming lives of Kenyans.The main objective of this study was to examine workforce diversity and employees performance in public organization with reference to Ministry of Lands and physical planning in Kenya.The study specifically sought to examine the extent to which difference in age, gender, education level of ethnicity is affecting employee performance.The research was based on a descriptive research design. The target population consisted of 188 employees from different cadres and levels of employment within the ministry. Purposive sampling technique was used by the researcher. The researcher drew a sample of 20% from each category where a sample size of 38 respondents from target population was drawn. The questionnaires were the main instrument for collecting the primary data required for the study. Primary data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics and presented using frequencies, percentages, charts, graphs and tables. The correlation and regression coefficients indicated a positive and significant relationship between workforce diversity and employee performance. Employees’ gender, education and age significantly influenced their performance. The study concludes that age negatively influenced the study in establishing influence of employee performance in Ministry of Lands and physical planning, Kenya. Education significantly influenced the study in establishing influence of employee performance. Ethnicity significantly influenced the study. The study recommends that older employees should relate well with their younger counterparts to foster teamwork. It is further recommended that women should be involved in the company’s decision making and problem solving as much as men. There should be a reasonable treatment given to all workers, regardless of their gender. Ministry of Lands and physical planning should be concerned about the Staff’s customs, cultures, and values.