Authenticity and Theft in the Hospitality Industry in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between authenticity and theft of employees in the hospitality industry in Bayelsa state, Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. The population of the study consists of all hotels registered with Bayelsa State Tourism Development and Hotel Licensing Agency, with an accessible population of 988 employees drawn from 25 three-star hotels in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. A sample of 285 employees was drawn using Taro Yamene’s formula, and Bowley’s Proportional Allocation Technique was adopted. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, the reliability analysis showed strong internal consistency across the scales used. Spearman Ranked Order Correlation Coefficient statistical tool was used to analyse the quantitative data. The results were considered statistically significant, as the p-value was less than .01 level (p < .001). Findings revealed a statistically significant relationship between authenticity and theft. Based on the findings, the study concluded that there is a significant relationship between authenticity and theft of hotel employees in the hospitality industry in Bayelsa state. It was recommended that; management provide training focused on authenticity, encourage team leaders to model professional behaviours aimed at setting standards that others can emulate and in addition hotel management should recognise and reward authentic behaviours. This can mitigate deviant work behaviours such as theft in the organisation.
Keywords
authenticity
theft
employee
organisation
deviant behaviours
References
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