Employee Retention through working Environment in Riley Services Limited Kenya

Abstract

The long term health and success of any organization depends on the retention of its key employees. The roles of employees of security firms go beyond guarding but they work very long hours in deplorable conditions and sometimes, the pay is not equal to the job. Such working conditions are not conducive for retention thus employees continuously move from one security firm to another in search of better terms. The situation is not made any better with the increase in number of private security firms that have continued to flood the market. This research aimed at ascertaining how employee retention can be enhanced in private security firms by improving working environment. The specific objectives were to examine how competitive pay and career development contribute to employee retention, evaluate the role of employee health and safety in employee retention, establish the relationship between work life balance and employee retention and finally to determine the gaps in the above retention strategies and how these gaps can be filled in order for private security firms to retain their staff. The study adopted the Vroom’s Expectancy Theory. Survey research design was used in the study. The target population was 1,100 employees spread in Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Mombasa and Embu and from the target population a sample of 110 was selected using stratified random sampling and simple random sampling thus a representation of 10% of the target population. Data was analyzed quantitatively using regression analysis since the researcher intended to understand the relationship between the independent and the dependent variables. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to analyze the data in order to determine the significant differences between the expected frequencies and the observed frequencies. Quantitative data was presented using tables, pie charts and bar graphs. The findings of this study indicated that working environment had a huge impact on employee retention, since 35.8% of the respondents felt that their working environment was conducive while the other 64.2% respondents were not satisfied with their working environment. The dissatisfaction was as a result of lack of proper uniforms & equipment to protect them from the dangers associated with work, low and inconsistent payment of salaries, long working hours with no payment of overtime and irregular assignments which resulted into long treks to and from work exposing them to accidents while on the road. In conclusion, working environment plays a very important role in employee retention. Competitive pay, work life balance, employee recognition, employee health and safety and career development if managed properly by the organization result into reduced employee turnover and as such employee retention. The following recommendations were made after completion of this study. First, Security companies should ensure that the salaries being paid are above the minimum wage, considering that the cost of living has gone up. Also, the security companies need to recognize the role played by the trade unions and encourage the employees to join the unions. Secondly, promotions for higher cadre employees to be done from within the organization. Thirdly, equip all the uniformed staff with complete uniforms and equipment. Finally, security companies should be sensitive to their employees on health and safety matters and have 24hours insurance cover for them so that they are covered in cases of accidents.