Factors Influencing Employee Retention at Meru University of Science and Technology

Abstract

Employees' retention is one of the critical aspects of human resource management and the success of any organisation; since human resource is a very critical resource that must be taken care of and retained. The purpose of this study was to establish the factors influencing employee retention at Meru University of Science and Technology. The study was conducted at Meru University of Science and Technology. The specific objectives of the study were: to establish the extent to which training and development influenced employee retention, to determine the extent to which performance appraisal influenced employee retention , to assess the extent to which welfare benefits influenced employee retention and to determine the extent to which potential for career growth influenced employee retention. The study will benefit the management of the university and future researchers. The study used descriptive research design with a target population of 312 employees and a sample size of 104 respondents whereby stratification was used to come up with the sample. The data was collected by use of questionnaires. For validity and reliability, questionnaires were pre-tested in a pilot survey. The study found that performance ratings were not done fairly and that staff did not undertake proffessional training however they attended mentorship programmes which was a major contributor to their retention. Lack of professional training was a contributing factor to the high turnover. Regarding the career growth, there was opportunity for career growth however this is not fairly done. The unfairness to career growth opportunity was another repellant that put off the employees from continuing to offer services. The institution also took care of the employees' welfare but more needed to be done especially with regard to improvement of the medical scheme and pension scheme. The study therefore recommended that the staff members to be actively involved in performance appraisal especially in rating them so that they get the feedback for their rating and the support to improve their performance. The study also recommended that the management should encourage the employees to pursue professional training to improve their skills and also to enhance their career growth. The study further recommends that the institution should manage career growth of individual employees with fairness and without any discrimination so as to reduce the level of voluntary attrition.

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