Domestic Violence and the Workplace: Improving Workers’ Productivity

Abstract

The productivity of victims experiencing domestic violence is reduced due to sapping of their energy, undermining their confidence and compromising their health. It is against this background that this study examined the impact of domestic violence in the workplace and workers’ welfare and productivity in Nigeria industries. The descriptive research design of the ex-post-facto type with a sample size of one hundred and sixty-four (164) participants selected from three industrial sectors within
Osogbo in Osun State were used for the study. The age range of participants was between 25 and 45 with a mean of 28.5. The main instrument used to generate data for the study was a set of questionnaire tagged ‘Domestic Violence and Workers’ productivity Questionnaire’ (DVAWPQ) with 0.85 reliability coefficient. Multiple regression analysis was used as tools of analysis. The results indicated that there was significant impact of domestic violence variables (physical, psychological and sexual
abuse) on the welfare and productivity of workers in industries. The independent variables taken together predicted the dependent variable by yielding a coefficient of multiple regression of 0.833 and a multiple regression square of 0.694. Findings showed that domestic violence leads to low productivity which is manifested in form of absenteeism, loss of work time, and high labour turnover. It is recommended that employer should take steps to prevent domestic violence and assist identified victims, thereby making employees become safer, healthier and happier  individuals with resultant improvements in employees’ productivity, health, trust and retention, and worksite safety.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Workplace, Workers, Productivity.