Ethnic-Based Discrimination and Employee Work Attitudes in the Nigerian Public Service

Abstract

Organizational behaviour literature is satiated with scholarly renditions on the association between workplace discrimination and employee work attitudes. Yet, it appears that employee negative job attitude is on the increase among Nigeria public servants. This study seeks to establish the influence of ethnic-based discrimination on employee work attitudes in the Nigeria Civil Service. Data was collected from Civil Servants working with the Rivers State Civil Service and tested using Kendall_tau Correlation Coefficient. The results indicated that ethnic-based discrimination leads to increase in employee incivility and a decrease in employee involvement. Among the recommendations was that recruitment and selection into the Civil Service be based on competence and capability, not on ethnic background. Also, promotion in the civil service should be based on individual’s contribution and performance not ethnic jingoism so as to encourage positive attitudes from workers.

Keywords: Ethnic-based discrimination, employee work attitudes, employee involvement, employee incivility