Work Force Diversity and Labour Productivity in Regional Referral Hospitals in Uganda. A case study of Fortportal Regional Referral Hospital

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of workforce diversity on labour productivity of employees in Uganda regional referral hospitals with Fort Portal Regional Referral hospital as a case study. The study specifically looked at; the relationship between gender and labour productivity of employees, cultural differences and labor productivity and the relationship between the level of education and labor productivity. The study used a case study design with both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study population included top management, middle management and operation management. Structured questionnaires were used in the study to collect quantitative data and interviews were used to collect qualitative data from key informants. The results of the survey were analyzed to obtain frequencies, percentages and correlations. Study findings reveal that there is a positive significant relationship between gender and labour productivity (r=251, p=.010). Therefore improvement in gender sensitive balancing and respect leads to improvement in labour productivity. Also there is a positive significant relationship between culture and labour productivity (r=.217, p=0.27), implying that improvement in cultural aspects and respecting cultural values leads to improvement in labour productivity. There is a positive and significant relationship between education and labor productivity (r=325, p=0.001), therefore improvement in education helps improve labour productivity. It was therefore recommended that there is need to put in place a comprehensive gender based policy, promote gender inclusion, introduce sensitization to appreciate different cultural differences, put in place an education and training policy and encourage mentorship.