Salary Payment System Preferences in Ghana and its Influence on Employee Work Behaviour and Economic Life

Salary payment in Ghana varies across sectors, not only in mode (cash, bank transfer, or mobile money), but also in frequency (monthly, weekly, and daily disbursements). The variations in payment mode and frequency have significant implications on financial well-being and employee behaviour. With improvements in Ghana's digital financial platforms as employee structures diversify, understanding how salary payment mode and frequencies shape employee financial planning, work motivation, and overall economic planning life is of interest to companies, employees and scholars. This research investigates the extent to which salary payment preferences in terms of mode and frequency shape the behaviour of employees and economic outcomes. This study adopted a cross-sectional quantitative research approach from 300 employees across public and private institutions in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana using stratified and purposive sampling techniques. The targeted respondents were a mix of workers receiving monthly, weekly and daily wages via various modes. Responses were analysed using Structural Equation Model (SEM) Analysis with descriptive analysis with SPSS version 27. The findings revealed that monthly bank or mobile money payments have a significant relationship with financial planning capacity, job commitments, and access to credit facilities. Weekly payments offered employees flexibility to meet short-term expenses. Employees with daily payment are exposed to higher financial vulnerabilities and lower job satisfaction. The study recommends employers consider flexible and robust salary systems that target specific employee needs. The study contributes to the development of policy frameworks for salary payment modes and frequencies to improve employee economic empowerment.