GENDER RESPECTAND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AMONGST HOTEL EMPLOYEES IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

The moderating role of gender in the relationship between gender respect and organizational commitment amongst hotel employees in the south east region of Nigeria was investigated. Data was collected using structured questionnaire from 471 employees of 50 selected hotels in the five south eastern states, specifically Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Anambra States. Analysis was through the partial correlation and partial least square regression on Eview 12.0. Results showed that the path coefficient for male and female groups within the respect – normative commitment gridlock is 0.597 and 0.461 respectively; at p–value of 0.014 (< 0.05) thus indicating that respect has more motivational influence on male employee normative commitment than on their female counterpart. The study concludes that respect at hotel workplace stimulates differences in organizational commitment between male and female employees. Specifically, normative commitment has strong implication for male employee productivity and overall dignity at work place. The researcher thus recommends that maintaining workplace dignity through respect i.e. self-respect, inter-personal respect, respect for hierarchy must be prioritized by human resource practitioners and policy makers in the consideration of employee personal and job characteristic antecedents during work design and planning.