In recent times, there have been numerous debates on the topic of low productivity in the workplace, which is defined as the organization’s inability to accomplish its maximum capacity. It is important to understand that every employer yearns to be as productive as possible, through a dedicated staff. According to managerial theorists, productivity is a very important issue in any organization. Some of the causes of low productivity in the workplace include, absenteeism by employees, the inability to have a fully trained staff and employee morale being of a low standard.
In terms of absenteeism, if employees fail to reach an acceptable level of work attendance then productivity levels would be jeopardized. For example, if MV Ltd has an absent rate of 25% contrary to Jensen’s Foods absent rate of 35%. Moreover, MV Ltd would have a higher productivity level than that of Jensen’s Foods. Project deadlines may not be achieved because of the consistency of absentees throughout a specific period in addition to management experiencing problems with recruiting persons to fill positions on a temporary basis. In many cases, it can be costly because some form of training in the area may be necessary especially in highly skilled jobs. Absenteeism can obstruct important decisions from being made in the company. For instance, an important individual who should be present, may be constantly absent and may be one who plays a fundamental role in the decision making process. Hence, it would impose a threat on the organization’s efficiency.
Training is important within any organization as it directly related to productivity. Managers should ensure that employees are readily able to grasp the relevant skills for the task they would be assigned. A group of untrained workers will get less work done as they have to informally train themselves. In contrast, someone who experiences formal training before reaching the floor or being given