Why staff stay: an investigation into the relationship between staff retention and staff satisfaction in a specialist public sector hospital

Rudden, Deirdre (2017) Why staff stay: an investigation into the relationship between staff retention and staff satisfaction in a specialist public sector hospital. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this work is to investigate the relationship between staff retention and staff satisfaction and longevity of service. Also to explore whether there is a relationship between retention of staff and levels of staff satisfaction within a specialist healthcare setting in a HSE hospital.

The sub-objectives of the research are as follows:
- To establish the factors that give rise to longevity of service
- To identify any relationship between longevity and satisfaction
- To explore any external factors that directly impact retention
- To provide recommendations that could be implemented to enhance retention

A mixed methodology of both quantitative and qualitative research was carried out. A staff survey was circulated to 554 staff using a Likert scale to measure satisfaction. 209 staff responded – 161 females and 48 males. The survey was conducted using Survey Monkey and the results analysed using SPSS.

In addition to this a series of interviews were used to follow up specific reasons for staff retention.

Ten semi structured interviews were carried out with staff who had completed the survey and had either less than fifteen years service or more than fifteen years service.

The research clearly demonstrates that there is a relationship between staff retention and satisfaction. The factors that emerged from the research were that job satisfaction, engagement, the environment, and leadership style, all affected satisfaction in general and so had a part to play in retention.

There is a relationship demonstrated between longevity and satisfaction that decreases based on service length when service length is greater than fifteen years.

There is a relationship demonstrated between longevity and satisfaction. 70% of staff with under fifteen years’ service strongly agreed or agreed that they were satisfied with their job. This is backed up by the results of staff with less than 15 years’ service interviewed who presented with good job satisfaction levels, positive opinions on leadership styles and employee engagement, specifically feeling valued within the organisation. Whereas only 11.1% of staff with over fifteen years’ service strongly agreed or agreed that they were satisfied with their job. This concurs with the staff interviewed, who have over 15 years’ service, who no longer felt valued by the organisation.

Communication, leadership structures and systems in place are viewed negatively by these staff interviewed. The external factors that impact retention are lack of stability and personal reasons.

Thus the factors that give rise to longevity of service and retention up to 15 years and the factors that give rise after 15 years appear to be different. This also implies that longevity of service beyond 15 years may have less to do with factors that influence retention positively.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Employee Retention R Medicine > Healthcare Industry H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Quality of Work Life / Job Satisfaction
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	15 Nov 2017 11:01
Last Modified:	15 Nov 2017 11:01
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/2839

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