ABSENTEEISM AMONG SECURITY PERSONNEL ON THE WA CAMPUS: CAUSES, EFFECTS AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Effective and efficient security systems of organisations guarantee their safety. It is in this context that security personnel absenteeism poses a serious challenge to managements worldwide. It is on this basis that the study was conducted to find out the causes, effects and management implication of absenteeism on the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS). The large student numbers, scattered locations of facilities both on the main Campus at Bamahu and the satellite locations within the Wa Municipality as well as its fast-growing student and staff populations justified the selection of Wa Campus for the study. A case study approach was adopted to enable the researcher delve deep in order to unravel the nexus of the causes and effects of absenteeism of security personnel. Both primary and secondary data collection techniques were employed in the study to collect different types of data from multiple sources. This triangulatory approach helped to cross-check the responses. The key findings were: high incidence of security personnel absenteeism stemming from drunkenness; commitment to reciprocal social obligations such as; attendance of funerals, weddings and naming ceremonies especially during the weekends. It was also found that the young newly recruited security personnel absent themselves more frequently from night duties for fear of being attacked. The main effects were: reported theft cases, difficulties in accessing keys to offices, frequent attacks by unknown assailants and the prevailing sense of insecurity on the Campus and its environs.