CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction

This chapter outlines background of the study, the statement of the problem, purpose of the study, objectives, research questions, hypotheses, scope, and significance of the study and definitions of operational terms.
1.1 Background to the Study
The background of this study will be presented in four perspectives, namely; the historical background, theoretical, conceptual and contextual perspective.
1.1.1 Historical Perspective
Globally, the success of any organization is closely related to employee performance within that organization. The quality of the employees’ workplace environment has an impacts on their motivation level and hence performance (Heath, 2016).The numbers of micro and small enterprises and those working in the informal sector of the economy are growing rapidly around the world since 19th century which account for the bulk of new employment and for the majority of the working poor. In assessments of workplace environment and employment conditions, with issues such as health and occupational safety, maternity protection, workfamily issues, homework, time spent at work, wages and income, work organization, sexual harassment, violence at work, workload, worker’s welfare facilities, housing, nutrition and
environment, the millions of women and men within micro and small size enterprises and the informal economy face perhaps the greatest problems among the working population (Rinehart,
2004). Conducive workplace environment ensures employee’s wellbeing which will enable them exert themselves to their roles with full commitment that may translate to higher performance (Akinyele, 2007).

In Africa, many research studies have been conducted regarding the impact of workplace environment on employee performance. Levert, Lucas and Ortlep (2014) conducted a research study on South African nurses and found high fatigue on three levels: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. They attributed the nursing burnout to a high workload and other organizational factors with in the hospital. In addition, Noble (2003) states that more attention should be given in identifying and dealing with workplace condition because when employees have negative perception to their environment they sometimes suffer from chronic stress. The workplace environment of any organization or institution generally includes three sub-environments. These are technical, human and organizational environments. Technical environment comprises tools, equipment, infrastructure and other technical elements; the human environment comprises peers, and colleagues with whom employees relate, team and work group, interactions, the leadership and management, while organizational environment, on the other hand, includes systems, procedures, practices, values and philosophies (Opperman, 2012). Work environment of an organization can also be categorized into internal and external work environment. The totality of these environments has
an influence on the employee performance of microfinance institutions.

In Cameroon, the factors of workplace environment began changing as a result of changes in many factors such as the social environment, since the 1990s, information technology and the
flexible ways of organizing work processes (Hasun & Makhbul, 2015). When employees are mentally stable (that is physically and emotionally) they will be motivated to work and their performance outcomes shall be increased. Moreover, a good workplace environment helps in reducing counterproductive behaviors such as number of absenteeism, theft and thus can increase the employee’s performance which intern leads to increased productivity at the workplace (Boles et al.2004). Workplace environment is argued have an impact immense on employee’s performance being either with negative or the positive outcomes (Chandrasekar 2011). In the world today, there are international organizations who fight for the rights of employee. Most people spend forty to fifty percent of their lives within a confined environments, which greatly influence their mental status, actions, abilities and performance (Dorgan, 1994). A better workplace environment will lead to better outcomes and increased productivity. Better physical condition of office will boosts the employees and ultimately improves their productivity. Various studies of multiple offices and office buildings indicated that factors such as dissatisfaction,
cluttered workplaces and the physical environment are playing a major role in the loss of employee’s performance (Briner, 2014)