The effect of workplace ergonomics on employee productivity: the case of the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines and Petroleum
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Date
2023-06-05
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A.A.U
Abstract
Several scholars have examined the effect of ergonomics on employees’ productivity and have
shown that workplace ergonomics is important to increase employee productivity. Companies
should have a better understanding of ergonomics and its effect on employees’ productivity. In
Ethiopia ergonomics is a new concept and some companies are implementing ergonomics
principles in rebuilding their offices in order to increase employees’ productivity. The Ethiopian
ministry of mines and petroleum is one of those institutions. However, there was no system to
measure the productivity of employees after the implementation of ergonomics principles in the
rebuilt office. This study examined the effect of workplace ergonomics on employee productivity
by using office lighting, noise (acoustics), indoor air quality, office furnishing, spatial
arrangements, office decor, and office flexibility of the workplace as a predictor of material
ergonomics (physical ergonomics). To examine the effect of workplace ergonomics on employee
productivity a quantitative research method was used. Primary data was collected by using
structured questionnaires filled by 222 employees of Ethiopian ministry of mines and petroleum.
A descriptive and explanatory research design was used to conduct the study. Data was analyzed
by using IBM SSPS version 27 a quantitative analysis tool. A simple random sampling method
was used to distribute the questionnaires. The major findings of this study were that lighting,
indoor air quality, improved noise (acoustics), office furnishing, spatial arrangements, and office
flexibility were found to be significant in order to boost employee productivity. Whereas office
décor was found to be insignificant.