Schedule Flexibility and Performance of Ebonyi State Civil Service in Nigeria

Abstract

Civil service has been identified as the fulcrum capable of contributing to the industrialization of Ebonyi State. The study aimed to examine the relationship between schedule flexibility and performance of Ebonyi State Civil Service. The study employed a descriptive survey design. A sample size of 371 respondents was drawn from a population of 5027 civil servants in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Primary source of data was employed mainly through a structured questionnaire. 360 copies of questionnaire were correctly filled, returned and used for analysis. Descriptive statistic was used to present data generated and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient with the aid of Software Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. The results revealed that there is a positive significant relationship between flexi-time flexibility and commitment among civil servants in the Ebonyi State Civil Service. Also, a positive significant relationship exists between job sharing and loyalty among civil servants in the Ebonyi State Civil Service. Within the period of creation of the state, the idea of schedule flexibility has been incorporated in the administrative documents of the state. Notably among these alternative work practices are flexi-time flexibility and job sharing flexibility which is believed to have influenced employee performance in terms of employee commitment and employee loyalty to flexible hours. The study recommends that government should redirect itself toward the implementation of flexi-time in order to influence and sustain employee commitment to higher performance in the state civil service. In the same-vein, government and other employers of labour should endeavour to make provision for job sharing in order to enjoy continued loyalty of employees in the organization.