Attitude of Shop Floor Employees Toward Women Managers in Fuel Depots in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Shop floor employees are the backbone of all companies. Their existence and support lead to the survival of any organization. They play a very important role in the daily advancement and profitability of the same. The purpose of this study was to establish the attitude of shop floor employees toward women managers in fuel depots in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Population consisted of one hundred and ninety three (193) shop floor employees. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data which was used in the study. In total one hundred and twenty one (121) shop floor employees responded yielding a response rate of sixty three percent (63%). Data analysis was done using frequencies, percentages and findings presented in tables, bar charts and figures. The findings of this study indicate that a negative attitude toward woman managers is rife in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the fuel depots, the number of women working was less than a third of that of the males. This study established that women managers are rated higher in management qualities and are considered to be more honest, diligent, compassionate, creative and intelligent when compared to their male counterparts. Beauty was also seen as an added advantage to women managers as it attracts clientele courtesy. Nevertheless, respondents in this study concurred that women hated having women leaders and whenever women managers acted in a masculine way were abhorred by the women subordinates. Attitude toward women managers differ among companies, cultures and sectors on the basis of some demographic characteristics, especially the gender of subordinates. In this study, women emerge as their own worst enemy, abhorring women leadership. The gender of shop floor employees in fuel depots in the Democratic Republic of Congo determines their attitude toward the women managers. This study shows that there is need for a culture change among employees in fuel depots in Lubumbashi in order to enable them view women as equal partners at the work place. There is need for further studies to be undertaken in other sectors in the same country, Africa and globally to try and establish the attitude of shop floor employees toward women managers.