MEDIATING ROLE OF ORGANISATIONAL POLITICS PERCEPTION ON LEADER-MEMBER EXCHANGE AND WORK WITHDRAWAL BEHAVIOUR AMONG PUBLIC SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS

ABSTRACT The study sought to examine the mediating role of organisational politics perception on leader-member exchange and work withdrawal behaviour among teachers in public senior high schools in the Sunyani municipality. The Explanatory-Cross-sectional design with a sample size of 152 selected through the simple random sampling procedure, comprising 106 males and 46 females with an average age of 37 was used. Questionnaires were used and data was generally analysed using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation, Simple Linear Regression and Independent Samples t-test. Also Hayes (2013) process approach for testing mediation was employed. Analyses of results revealed that, leader-member exchange had a significant negative relationship with composite work withdrawal, turnover, absenteeism and presenteeism but a positive weak correlation with acquiescent silence. Again, leader-member exchange had significant negative relationship with organisational politics perception. Further, organisational politics perception had a significant positive correlation with work withdrawal. Also, tenure did not relate positively with organisational politics perception. Moreover, there was no gender difference in organisational politics perception and work withdrawal. Lastly, organisational politics perception did not mediate the effect of leadermember exchange on work withdrawal. Based on the findings it was recommended that, heads of schools should endeavour to fulfil teachers’ expectations and ensure that there is equity in dealing with teachers if they want to portray fairness.