LEADERSHIP STYLE AND DEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF ETHICAL WORK BEHAVIOUR AMONG ORGANISATIONS IN JOS-NIGERIA

Abstract

The door for unethical behaviour has been swung open in most companies by excess focus on short-term profit as an exclusive measure of success. The cost of this behaviour has become phenomenal. Studies have shown how debilitating dishonesty can be in the workplace. This empirical study examined leadership style and demographic determinants of ethical work behaviour among organisations in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Using ex-post facto research design, a total of 200 employees were purposively selected comprising 101 from private sectors and 99 from public sectors with mean age of 35.27 and standard deviation of 9.87. A regression analysis showed that transformational and transactional leadership styles jointly and separately predicted ethical work behaviour. A t-test of independent samples revealed that age and gender influenced ethical behaviour while a One-way ANOVA showed significant influence of work experience, job status, education, and marital status on ethical work behaviour. The study recommends frequent ethical base trainings both for organizational leadership and employees, among others.