Black tax and Employee Engagement in the Pharmaceutical Industry of Bulawayo City in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Employees in Pharmaceutical industry are coming late to work and knocking off early. These actions by the employees are likely to incur economic costs on the employer, occasioned by low employee productivity. The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has expressed concern over the general low staff morale in the pharmaceutical sector. While most studies have concentrated on internal job related factors as drivers of employee engagement, this study seeks to assess employee engagement as being influenced by black tax, an external factor unrelated to the employee’s job environment. The main aim of the research was to establish the influence of black tax on employee engagement, particularly focussing on pharmaceutical manufacturing and retailing industry in Bulawayo. Specific objectives were: to identify the causes of the existence of black tax, to determine differential dimensions of black tax, to establish the degree of the relationship between black tax and employee engagement and to recommend human resource management strategies of managing black tax to enhance employee engagement at the work place. The researcher employed philosophical approach of pragmatism to guide the whole research. The researcher adopted multi stage sampling technique supported by census technique to pick participants from the population. Closed and open ended questionnaires were used to collect data from qualified pharmacists who are working in both manufacturing and retailing industry in Bulawayo. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and Regression analysis models were used to present and analyse data. The results showed that there was a positive relationship between black tax and employee engagement. The researcher recommends that management should ensure that employees are motivated all the time. They should implement open door policy so that employees will air their views at work. Management should come up with some unique policies so that employees will have time to socialise and share their experiences in life.