Abstract: Good employee-employer relations in an organization are necessary because it allows and provides forums and avenues within the organization structure where both parties can meet on a regular basis to ventilate their grievances and iron out their contentious issues. This will likely foster healthy working relationship between the two parties and contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the organization, thus reducing staff turnover, improve service delivery and ultimately contribute the improved competitiveness of the organization. Given this, the primary purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of employee relations strategies on retention of employees in universities in Kenya. The specific objective of the study was: To analyze the influence of employee relations strategies on retention of employees in universities in Kenya. The study is likely to aid university management boards and councils, employee unions, Human Resource professionals, researchers and scholars and government in policy formulation for employee relations strategies as a reliable means to improve retention of employees in universities in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive design. The fundamental models shaping this study were the linear regression models. The target population of the study comprised all employees in 70 accredited universities in Kenya with a total population of 50,670 employees. The sample size of the study was 384 respondents chosen by stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaires were the primary data collection tool. Linear regression models were used to analyze data using SPSS (Version 23) software. The findings of the study were presented using tables and charts. The main findings from the study indicated that employee relations strategies influenced retention of employees in universities in Kenya. Also, this study found that 67.2% of retention of employees in universities in Kenya was explained by the variable under study; finally the study also contributed to theory and knowledge for humanity. The significant factor influencing employee retention in universities in Kenya was focusing on employee relations strategy with P-value standing at .672. However, the study had various limitations among them being lack of objectivity of the respondents and also limited scope regarding sample size. The study concluded that employee relations strategies influenced retention of employees in universities in Kenya and recommended that other employee relations strategies including providing communication channel for employees to channel their grievances towards top management, employee voice to give employee value and employee participation in the affairs for the company. This is likely to boost the employees’ morale and motivate them to perform their job tasks with zeal thus increasing their productivity and hence enabling the universities in Kenya to achieve their mandate and more enormous competitive advantage.
Keywords: Employee relations strategies and retention strategies.
Title: INFLUENCE OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS STRATEGIES ON RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES IN UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA
Author: Dr.Michael Mboya Muma, Conrad Ochego, Dr. Joyce Nzulwa, Dr. Kepha Ombui, Prof. Romanus Odhiambo, Dr. Susan Wekesa, Dr. Mary Omondi, Protus Atsali Lumiti, Muo Charles
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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