Abstract

In this study, the effect of social sexual behavior on workers’ productivity is examined from the perspective of individual managers, individual employees and work groups. A case study of banks in Delta State, Nigeria, is adopted to investigate the effect of social sexual behavior on workers’ productivity from a different cultural perspective as obtainable in literature. A measure of workers’ productivity and their interaction with components of social sexual behavior; sexual harassment and workplace romances, was obtained from 110 employees sampled from three banks within the study region through a questionnaire. Sex, age, marital status, education and employment status were adopted as moderating variables for the study. Multiple regression analysis was used in testing the hypotheses of the study. Result of this work reveal amongst others that sexually suggestive jokes or comments about a person’s dress or body, made in their presence or directed towards them from a co-worker or customer could lead to demoralization of workers and poor interpersonal job performance between coworkers or of a worker towards a customer. The study further reveal that workplace romance could trigger jealousy among other employees, thereby leading to a failed interpersonal job performance and low productivity. The study recommends that organizations should clearly define their climate for social sexual behavior to both workers and customers through policies and sensitization with strict penalties given to defaulters.

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