Poor employee welfare fuels workplace corruption
By Solomon Nartey Tetteh
A human resource expert Naa Amerley Croffie has highlighted the connection between poor employee welfare and workplace corruption, urging business owners to adopt ethical and inclusive management practices to curb the problem.
A 2023 report by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) noted that organizational corruption is often driven by systemic issues such as inadequate pay, lack of ethical leadership, and weak accountability structures.
Employees, especially those in low- to mid-level positions, may resort to corrupt acts either to supplement low incomes or because they do not trust management’s commitment to fairness and transparency.
Speaking on the Business Breakfast show on Zed 101.9 FM, Ms. Croffie explained that the incentive for corruption sometimes arises from survival needs, particularly when employees feel that company profits are not fairly shared.
“For many business owners, it depends on their priorities. Some aim for both social impact and profit, while others focus solely on the bottom line sometimes at the expense of their workers. When employees see profits rising but do not feel the benefits themselves, it becomes easier for them to justify unethical behaviour,” she said.
Ms. Croffie emphasized the importance of creating a create and share culture where profits are shared with staff through bonuses, salary increases, and improved welfare conditions.
According to her, such practices can reduce the likelihood of employees engaging in corrupt acts.
She also stressed the need for businesses to establish strong internal control systems, including spot checks and regular financial reconciliations, to deter fraud.
Using petty cash management as an example, she warned that without routine oversight, employees may start falsifying records.
“If a staff member submits a reconciliation and receives a fresh disbursement without review, over time, the risk of dishonest reporting grows. Structures and accountability systems must be deliberately designed and enforced,” she advised.
