DIVERSITY AND JOB SATISFACTION WITHIN ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA: EXPLORING THE SCENARIO OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES

This study focused on diversity and job satisfaction within organisational climates, exploring the scenarios of small and medium-sized enterprises. The study explored the effects of physiological elements of employee diversity on job satisfaction at the workplace and ascertained the influence of psychological diversity climate on the job satisfaction of employees in SMEs in Kogi State. This study employed a survey research design and targeted employees who could provide insights into diversity-related situations. Both descriptive and inferential methods were employed to analyse the collected data. The study used multiple regression analyses to test hypotheses. Results showed that the age of employees has a significant negative effect on job satisfaction. As employees grow older, there is a noticeable trend towards decreasing job satisfaction, and the gender of employees was found to have an insignificant negative effect on job satisfaction, among others. The study recommends, among others, that SME owners or managers should implement age-specific support programmes aimed at addressing the changing needs and preferences of older employees to help sustain and improve their job satisfaction and that managers should conduct regular training sessions to raise awareness and sensitivity among employees regarding religious and diversity-related issues to foster a positive and inclusive work environment.