The impact of non-unionised participation platforms on employee productivity in the South African workplace

Abstract

The aim of the article is to determine the impact that different participation platforms might have on employee productivity levels of the lower-skilled non-unionised employee segment of the South African workplace. A firm-based dynamic log-linear Cobb-Douglas production function model is used as it allows for the incorporation of the dynamic characteristics of the non-unionised employee segment of the South African workplace. The main conclusions of the study are that, i) the positive productivity spill-over effects of a formal committee participation platform in the lower-skilled non-unionised employee segment of the South African workplace are superior to non-committee participation platforms and, ii) a more dispersed racial participation rate, greater gender spread and a dynamic age spread for non-unionised employees are important contributing factors towards the enhancement of higher productivity levels for lower-skilled non-unionised employee participation platforms.