EFFECT OF WORKPLACE DIVERSITY ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF MIVA RICE MAKURDI

ABSTRACT This study examined the Effect of workplace diversity on Organisational Performance: A Study of Miva rice Makurdi. The study sought to achieve the following objectives. To determine the Effect of age diversity, gender diversity, cultural diversity and religious diversity on Organisational Performance: A Study of Miva rice Makurdi. A cross-sectional survey design was used in this study. The study focused on the staff of Miva rice Makurdi with a population of one hundred and fifty (150) employees. In view of the size of the population of this study, the study adopts census sampling approach to determine the sample size. The study relied on primary data which questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Regression was used in testing the formulated hypotheses with the aid of the statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS 21). The study found that age diversity and gender diversity have a positive significant effect on organisational performance of Miva rice. While cultural and religious diversity have negative significant on the performance of Miva rice Makurdi. The study concluded that management of Miva Rice Makurdi could prioritize strategies that enhance age and gender diversity while ensuring that cultural and religious differences are managed for cohesion rather than performance enhancement. The study recommended that Management of Miva Rice Makurdi should continue to encourage the inclusion of different age and gender groups in its workforce. This can be done by implementing mentorship programmes that allow experienced employees to guide younger ones and by fostering a workplace that values both fresh ideas and seasoned expertise. More so, there should promote cultural and religious tolerance and understanding, by ensuring that policies accommodate different religious and cultural practices (e.g., flexible schedules for religious observances) without affecting the performance-driven aspects of the organization. Keywords: workplace diversity, age diversity, gender diversity, cultural diversity, religious diversity, Organisational performance