Workplace Challenges in the Local Government Unit of Polangui, Albay, Philippines
An Analysis of Communication Skills and Human Relations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56741/jgi.v4i02.910
Keywords:
Communication Skills, Human Relations, Local Government Unit, Professional Qualifications, Workplace Challenges
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the workplace challenges faced by employees of the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Polangui, Albay, Philippines, specifically in the areas of communication skills and human relations. The study utilized a descriptive-quantitative research design and employed a chi-square test to assess the association between respondents' demographic profiles and their communication and interpersonal skills. Results indicated that most profile variables, such as age, sex, employment status, management level, office assignment, and seminar attendance, had no significant influence on communication skills or human relations. However, highest educational attainment and eligibility status showed a statistically significant relationship with both communication skills (p < 0.05) and human relations (p < 0.05), suggesting that higher education and certifications positively impact workplace competencies. These findings support previous literature indicating that formal education and professional qualifications play a crucial role in developing effective communication and interpersonal interactions in professional settings. The results also imply the need for continued capacity building and targeted training programs for LGU personnel to enhance workplace effectiveness.
Downloads
References
R. Peeters, H. Trujillo Jiménez, E. O’Connor, P. Ogarrio Rojas, M. González Galindo, and D. Morales Tenorio, “Low‐trust bureaucracy: Understanding the Mexican bureaucratic experience,” Public Administration and Development, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 65–74, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pad.1824
H. F. Zou, “Government efficiency is a contradiction in itself: Bureaucracy and inefficiency,” China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics, Working Paper no. 711, 2024.
C. J. D. Sicat, M. A. P. Mariano, A. F. G. Castillo, C. Adaro, and R. Maddawin, “Assessment of the Philippine local government planning and budgeting framework,” PIDS Discussion Paper Series, no. 2019-18, 2019.
C. F. Bueno, “The Public Policy Analysis on the Program Implementations of the Delivery of Basic Services in the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160) in the Province of Ilocos Sur,” University of Northern Philippines, 2018.
H. Zacher and C. W. Rudolph, “Age diversity in organizations: An integrative conceptual review and agenda for future research,” Journal of Organizational Behavior, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 442–462, 2019.
C. Rees and C. Sheard, “The relationship between medical students' attitudes towards communication skills learning and their demographic and education‐related characteristics,” Medical Education, vol. 36, no. 11, pp. 1017–1027, 2002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2923.2002.01333.x
A. Tella and S. M. Mutula, “Gender differences in computer literacy among undergraduate students at the University of Botswana: Implications for library use,” Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 59–76, 2008.
S. W. Yoon and S. Y. Lee, “The relationship between educational attainment and job performance in public sector organizations,” Public Administration Review, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 362–372, 2019.
J. Smith and H. Turner, “The impact of educational attainment on professional communication skills,” International Journal of Business Communication, vol. 56, no. 4, pp. 482–498, 2019.
T. T. Nguyen and V. L. Tran, “Educational attainment and its relationship to digital skills in public sector employees,” Education and Technology Journal, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 345–360, 2020.
Y. Rivaldo and S. D. Nabella, “Employee performance: Education, training, experience and work discipline,” Calitatea, vol. 24, no. 193, pp. 182–188, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47750/QAS/24.193.20
M. Garcia and J. L. Rodriguez, “Educational attainment and its influence on employee performance in organizational settings,” Educational Research Quarterly, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 56–71, 2020.
J. H. Lim and K. S. Park, “The link between civil service eligibility, job satisfaction, and employee retention in government organizations,” Review of Public Personnel Administration, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 21–38, 2021.
T. Johnson, M. Evans, and P. Walker, “Professional certifications and their role in enhancing workplace communication skills,” Journal of Professional Communication, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 232–245, 2020.
R. Garcia and L. Smith, “The role of professional certifications in developing digital literacy among government employees,” Government Information Quarterly, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 111–126, 2021.
A. Rodriguez and T. Nguyen, “Professional certifications and their influence on work management capabilities,” Management Perspectives, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 556–573, 2020.
D. Harten and T. Cummings, “Employment status and its impact on employee engagement in public sector organizations,” Public Personnel Management, vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 201–215, 2021.
P. Laegreid and T. Christensen, “Organizational structure and performance in local government: The role of staffing and role definition,” Local Government Studies, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 573–589, 2019, doi: 10.1080/03003930.2019.1567406.
G. Chen and J. Liu, “The role of management levels in employee performance and motivation: A critical analysis,” International Journal of Management Studies, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 45–62, 2019.
R. Bautista and L. Santos, “Communication challenges in local government offices in the Philippines,” Philippine Journal of Public Administration, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 178–197, 2019.
L. K. Fryer and E. Freeman, “Mindfulness and active listening in professional communication settings,” Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 106, no. 5, pp. 673–689, 2021.
L. Zhang and S. H. Kim, “The impact of workplace conflict resolution on teamwork and productivity,” Journal of Organizational Behavior, vol. 42, no. 5, pp. 732–747, 2021.
C. J. Thomas and Y. C. Hsu, “Work-life balance as a determinant of employee performance in public organizations,” Review of Public Administration, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 289–305, 2021.
Abed, L. G., Abed, M. G., & Shackelford, T. K. (2023). Interpersonal communication style and personal and professional growth among Saudi Arabian employees. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 910. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20020910
K. Jansen and M. Cooper, “IT support and workplace productivity: An exploratory study,” Journal of Technology in Public Administration, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 112–129, 2020.
R. Mitchell and L. Harper, “The role of technical troubleshooting skills in enhancing workplace efficiency,” Journal of Information Systems, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 231–250, 2022.
K. Davis and A. Simpson, “The role of reliable technology in workplace productivity: Evidence from public sector organizations,” Workplace Performance Review, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 201–219, 2021.
H. Lee and J. Kim, “Managing workloads in public organizations: A study on employee well-being and productivity,” Journal of Public Management, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 457–473, 2022.
N. Jankalová, Z. J. Mikušová, and D. Pócsová, “Factors influencing employee engagement in public administration,” Voprosy Gosudarstvennogo i Munitsipal’nogo Upravleniya (Public Administration Issues), no. 6 Special Issue II, pp. 53–77, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/1999-5431-2022-0-6-53-77
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Princess Zarah Coronado, Ma. Josefa Sario Reyes, KC Baydal Britanico

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.





