INFLUENCE OF EMPLOYEE RETENTION STRATEGIES ON COMPETITIVENESS OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA
Yeswa Eunice Mapesa Yvonne - Master of Science (Human Resource Management), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Kepha Ombui - Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The current study aims at investigating the influence of employee retention strategies on competitiveness of private hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study specifically focused on establishing the influence of career development plans, employee recognitions, compensation plans and work environment on competitiveness of the private hospitals. The study was anchored on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, Two Factor Theory, Expectancy Theory and the Equity Theory. The target population comprised of 53 private hospitals in Nairobi County. The study adopted census method where all members of the target population was included. The HRM and their assistants of each of the hospital made up the unit of analysis thus making a total of 53 respondents. The study used quantitative data that was collected from respondents using 5 point Likert scales questionnaire with closed ended questions. A pilot test was conducted on three private hospitals to detect weaknesses in design and instrumentation. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 22. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was used. The study findings were presented in form of tables and figures for easier interpretation. The findings of the study revealed that career development plans, recognition, compensation plans and work environment positively and significantly influences competitiveness of private hospitals in Nairobi County. The study recommends that management of private hospitals in Nairobi County should focus on establishing and enhancing career development plans by providing employees with opportunities for career development, career progression/path, having an established skill development programs, and on and off the job training for employee in the organization and coaching and mentorship program. Another recommendation was that the management of private hospitals should establish and advance recognition practices by establishing new assignments for good performing employees, having appraisal policies to guide employee appraisals, having an excellent employee appreciation for better performance, fairly appraising and recognizing employees and having a regular and appreciation and recognition programs. The study further recommends that the management of private hospitals enhance compensation plans by having attractive salaries and wages to employees, offering attractive allowances(House, travel, leave etc.) to health workers, provision of bonuses to the employee, offering payments for employees working overtime, having a regular salary increments in the hospital, offering competitive remunerations, having a transparent and fair allocation of bonuses in the hospital and providing regularly salary supplements inform of bonus. The study finally recommends that the management of private hospitals should focus on establishing a conducive work environment by having a flexible work schedules that allows employee to take breaks in between the work, having sufficient work equipment and tools, ensuring existence of employee security throughout, having sufficient supplies needed by employees to do jobs safely, having a manageable workload in the hospital, emphasizing on employees wellbeing and creating an employee friendly work environment by integrating various specialized work arrangements. These practices enhance competitiveness of private hospitals in Nairobi County.
