Motivation and attitude among kitchen staff in SHSS in the kwawu east district

Abstract

The study set out to examine the motivation and attitude towards work among kitchen staff in senior high schools (SHSs) within the Kwawu East District. Specifically, it involved an examination of the motivational needs of the staff, the strategies used to motivate kitchen staff and the factors influencing job attitudes of staff. A cross-sectional design was adopted to survey 42 kitchen staff and seven school Principals. Interview schedules were used to collect data from the kitchen staff and interview guides were used to elicit data from the Principals. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, such as means, medians, frequencies, and percentages. Chi-square tests with their associated p-values were used to test for the statistical significance of the association between the study variables. The qualitative data were discussed on thematic areas of the objectives. The study found that the motivational needs of the kitchen staff was mostly on the increment of their salary. Other needs concerned their job security, career progression, benefits and training. However, none of the needs of the staff had been fulfilled by the school management. Good social relations, good supervision, interest and job security reinforced positive attitudes among the staff, whereas negative work attitudes among the kitchen staff were underlain by low salary, lack of in-service training, lack of retirement benefits, low recognition of efforts, and monotony of work. The study recommends that kitchen staff and school Principals should formal complaints to the Directorate and solicit funds for the salaries, replacement of kitchen ware, training of kitchen staff, as well as improving the working environment of the kitchen.