WORKPLACE INCIVILITY AND STAFF JOB PERFORMANCE IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES: THE STUDY OF SOUTH-SOUTH AND SOUTH-EAST OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The general objective of the study was to investigate the impact of workplace incivility on staff job performance in Universities in South-South and South-East Nigeria. The study adopted the cross-sectional research design. Data was obtained from academic and non-academic staff in the Faculty of Management Sciences of the thirteen (13) Federal Universities in South-South and South-East of Nigeria. The population for the study was 2,691 and 348 respondents were sampled from the selected thirteen (13) Federal Universities across eleven (11) states in South-South and South-East Nigeria. The technique of probability random sampling was employed for the selection of 300 respondents. The Statistical tool used for the analysis of data includes descriptive statistics, the jacquebera normality test and correlation tests. The ordinary least square multiple regression tests was conducted to test the hypothesis formulated using Stata version 13 software. The results show that: exclusionary behavior has a significant negative relationship with job performance of staff (Coef. 0.1901, p = 0.000),. There is a significant negative relationship between workplace gossiping and job performance of staff (Coef. 0.3260, p = 0.000). Workplace hostility has a significant negative relationship with the job performance of staff in Universities in South-South and South-East in Nigeria (Coef. 0.4020, p = 0.000). The study concluded that non-physical incivility like impoliteness, verbal abuse, harsh criticism, and non-cooperation among co-workers that manifest in the work environment can undermine employees' motivation for work and also reduce their abilities to perform.