Does workplace incivility affect the satisfaction of employees? Evidence from small and medium enterprises

Abstract

There are few empirical studies that have examined whether workplace incivility affects employees' satisfaction of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in Nigeria, despite the fact that we acknowledged the strong extant literature on the relationship between workplace incivility and employees' contentment. Consequently, this study investigated whether workplace incivility affects the satisfaction of employees among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The study employed a survey design, utilising a questionnaire as the primary tool for data collection. The questionnaire was circulated among   six hundred (600) respondents. Out of the six hundred questionnaires distributed, five hundred and eighty (580) were successfully completed and returned. Data obtained in the survey was analyzed using descriptive statistics (simple percentages, frequency counts, mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, and Pearson correlation), post-estimation statistics (variance inflation factor), and inferential statistics (multiple regression). Findings revealed that supervisors’ incivility (t= -9.17; Prob.= 0.000) and co-workers’ incivility (t = -7.44; Prob.=0.000) negatively and significantly affect employees’ satisfaction. The study concludes that workplace incivility affects employees’ satisfaction of small and medium scale enterprises. The suggestion posits that individuals who own small and medium enterprises, as well as human resource professionals, have the potential to mitigate instances of uncivil conduct and practices, thereby fostering a culture of civility within the workplace.