Perspectives and Management of Work place Emotions in the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Uyo Zonal Command

Abstract

The research examined the perspectives of work-place emotions in the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Uyo Zonal Command. The study's objectives were to find out the emotional issues and their obvious triggers as well as the strategies put in place by management of the Agency to handle them. Using the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) research method; 18 employees of NAPTIP (one head of unit and two immediate officers following the rank of head of unit) drawn from the six units in the Zonal Command elicited responses which were recorded, transcribed and analysed using explanation building, pattern matching, and sensemaking descriptive analysis techniques.The analysis revealed that emotional issues such as uncontrolled outbursts of anger, over-reaction to criticism; overt display of confrontational behaviours with colleagues; etc. were present in the organisation. Other findings indicated that emotional triggers such as work stress, intra- organisational role conflicts, discrimination, among others fuelled emotional reactions in the Agency which could be detrimental to job performance and staff productivity. Further findings suggested training and educating the employees on emotional intelligence, institutionalising open door communication policy, etc as modalities for managing work place emotions and recommended appropriate managerial support for employees of the Agency.