Toxic Workplace Environment Effect on Citizenship Behaviour and Engagement

Authors

  • W. Asamoah-Appiah Cape Coast Technical University
  • E. Kumi Sunyani Technical University, Sunyani, Ghana.
  • S. T. Yeboah Cape Coast Technical University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26437/ajar.v10i2.801

Keywords:

Behaviour. citizenship. environment. toxic. workplace

Abstract

Purpose: The study's primary objective was to investigate how toxic workplace environments affect employee engagement and citizen behaviour.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted a descriptive correlational research design. The targeted population was six hundred forty-three employees of selected multinational corporations in Ghana. Systematic sampling was a technique employed to select the respondents. A survey was conducted using a structured, validated questionnaire to solicit quantitative data. Data was analysed using SPSS (v. 26) and the PLS-SEM software (3.0).

Findings: The main findings demonstrated a statistically significant negative correlation between employee engagement, toxic work environment, and citizenship behaviour. However, a statistically significant relationship was found between servant leadership and good citizenship. A positive association was observed between servant leadership and employee engagement.

Research Limitation: The study adopted a cross-sectional data collection approach, which limited the opportunity for a longitudinal survey. Data collection was also limited to selected multinational companies in Ghana.

Practical Implication: A toxic workplace is characterised by negative interpersonal dynamics, which increase turnover, undermine employee engagement, exacerbate job burnout and demotivation, decrease total productivity, raise absenteeism and turnover

Social Implication: The toxic workplace environment may cause negative interpersonal dynamics such as stress and demotivation, lower their levels of organisational citizenship behaviour

Originality/Value: The study on toxicity is novel in Ghana since relatively few studies seek to establish the relationship between a toxic workplace environment, employee engagement, citizenship behaviour, and the role of servant leadership.

Author Biographies

W. Asamoah-Appiah, Cape Coast Technical University

Dr Asamoah-Appiah William is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Management and Administration, School of Business, Cape Coast Technical University, Ghana.

E. Kumi, Sunyani Technical University, Sunyani, Ghana.

Dr Ernest Kumi is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Secretaryship and Management Studies, Faculty of Business and Management Studies, Sunyani Technical University, Ghana.

S. T. Yeboah, Cape Coast Technical University

Dr. Solomon Tawiah Yeboah is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Marketing, School of Business, Cape Coast Technical University, Ghana.

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Published

2024-12-25

How to Cite

Asamoah-Appiah, W., Kumi, E., & Yeboah, S. T. (2024). Toxic Workplace Environment Effect on Citizenship Behaviour and Engagement. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH, 10(2), 173–202. https://doi.org/10.26437/ajar.v10i2.801