FINANCIAL COST OF SECURITY STAFF ABSENTEEISM IN THE UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES: A CASE STUDY OF WA CAMPUS, GHANA

Abstract

Well-planned and implemented administrative polices and assignments of duties leads to betterment of institutions. Laid down procedures if adhered to can lead to increase in production, customer satisfaction and adherence to duties by the institutions’ security staff. The research was to elicit the potential effects of security staff on UDS funds. A mixed, quantitative-qualitative, approach was used in the data collection on the security staff absenteeism at the Wa Campus of the UDS spanning a period of three months, which started from 1 st March to 31st May, 2013. Managing the large number of students, cost of providing facilities for the main Campus at Bamahu and other satellite ones within the Wa Municipality and its fast-growing staff population formed the basis of selecting Wa Campus out the four for the study instead of any of the other three campuses in the University. A case study approach was adopted to unearth the economic cost of absenteeism. Key findings were: high incidence of security staff absenteeism, loss of working hours, loss of both students and staff motorbikes, cost of replacing stolen items such as projectors and other equipment in the lecture theatres and halls. Thorough investigation of applicants should be done before recruiting into the Campus security. Automatic time machines should be used for recording reporting and closing hours of security staff.