Effects of disciplinary procedures on employees' performance In postal corporation of Kenya
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Date
2014-07-10
Authors
Maikara, Amon Marucha
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of disciplinary procedures on
employees' performance in the Postal Corporation of Kenya. Indiscipline in any organization
has devastating consequences on job performance. Some of these consequences include loss
of working hours, destruction of property, failure to meet the performance targets and most
importantly cause the organization not to have a competitive advantage, thereby not meeting
its vision and mission. However, when disciplinary procedures are properly applied they lead
to high motivation on the part of employees thereby producing high performance for the
organization. The target population in the study was 215 employees at the Postal Corporation
of Kenya headquarters and a sample size of 44 employees which represented 20% of the
targeted population was selected and surveyed for the study. They were randomly selected
from the 5 departments namely; Finance, HR & Development. Legal department, Information
and Technology and lastly Mail/Courier services department. Descriptive statistics was used
to summarize their responses. Out of the 44 employees selected for the study, 39 of them
responded to the questionnaire and this formed 89% of the sample size. The respondents
provided data from where general findings were drawn about the targeted population and that
their views were presented by use of Tables, Bar Graphs, Frequency, Pie Charts, Percentages,
Likert scale and also by use of measures of central tendency such as mean, mode and the
standard deviation. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) computer program was
quite useful in achieving this.
The study found out that most employees in the Postal Corporation of Kenya were aware of
the existence of the code of regulations and the disciplinary procedures and that negligence,
lateness, absenteeism, intoxication and also criminal offences such as theft: by servant were
found to be the commonly committed offences. The study also found out that majority of the
employees (64%) approved the disciplinary procedures since they addressed genuine cases of
indiscipline. However a negligible percentage of (15%) disapproved the procedures since
they were sometimes aimed at settling scores. Furthermore the study found out that Managers
were not well trained in handling disciplinary cases and more often than not they overlooked
some procedures. This greatly impacted negatively on employees' performance since they
felt as being subjected to punitive measures unfairly hence felt demoralized thereby
hampering the growth of Postal Corporation of Kenya. The study also found out that other
factors outside the disciplinary procedures also affected performance of the Postal
Corporation of Kenya. These factors included; financial problems of the Corporation
nepotism, lack of training, stiff competition, poor technology and above all poor leadership
from the Postmaster general emanating from lack of competitiveness during their recruitment
process. The study suggests that all employees be involved in the making of rules and
regulations irrespective of their positions to enhance or create ownership. Furthermore the
study recommends that management should be well trained on disciplinary procedures so as
to avoid conflicts and communication breakdown between them and the union sable members
of staff. Additionally the management of Postal Corporation of Kenya should regularly alert
their employees on the expected level of discipline through circulars and distribution of the
Postal Corporation of Kenya code of conduct. Considering the importance of discipline in
employees of every organization, the study recommends further research to measure variables
that were beyond the scope of this study.
Description
Department of Business Administration, 69p. 2012