Organisational Factors and Staff Retention in Institutions of Higher Learning in Kabale District

Abstract

In this study, the researcher sought to establish the effect of organizational factors on staff retention in higher institutions of learning in Kabale District. The assumption was that effective promotion, staff development and reward systems are critical factors in attracting and retaining employees. Specifically the study had three objectives namely, to find out the extent to which promotion practices affect staff retention, examine how staff development affects staff retention and find out the relationship between reward system and staff retention in higher institutions of learning in Kabale District. A correlational research design was employed using a questionnaire as well as structured interviews to 91 lectures and seven institutional administrators respectively. The findings showed that promotion practices have a significant positive influence in accounting to staff retention; staff development was positively correlated with staff retention; and a highly significant positive relationship was found between reward systems and staff retention in the three institutions of higher learning in Kabale District. From the findings, the researcher concluded that staff promotion, staff development and reward system are among the most effective ways to retain the staff working in the institutions of higher learning in Kabale District. It was recommended that there is need for institutional leaders to properly align promotional practices with the values and competencies of institutional staff. In the same vein, staff development should be encouraged in the institutions of higher learning. The study, further recommended a need to improve on the way academic staff are rewarded and areas for further research.