På grund av den stigande konkurrensen på arbetsmarknaden inom redovisning- och revisionsbranschen möter företag utmaningar med att behålla medarbetare på lång sikt. Konsekvenserna blir att personalomsättningen ökar och sin tur påverkar lönsamheten då prestationen hos medarbetare försämras. Det finns olika anledningar till varför anställda lämnar företaget där många av dessa kan förebyggas genom att företag tillämpar anpassade strategier. Denna studie riktar sig till att undersöka hur stora företag respektive SMEs behandlar strategier för att behålla medarbetare långsiktigt, samt redogöra för om det finns några skillnader eller likheter som kan hänföras till storleken på företagen. Men behandlar även vilka ekonomiska effekter en uppsägning medför. Studiens utformning baseras på en kvalitativ metod där fyra stora företag och fyra SMEs har intervjuats vilket utgör grunden fördet empiriska materialet. För att uppnå studiens syfte grundas den i en multipel fallstudiedesign. Studien har resulterat i att det finns skillnader i hur olika företag implementerar olika strategier för att behålla medarbetare på lång sikt, men att dessa skillnader snarare beror på företagets mål än storlek. I resultatet framgår anledningar till varför medarbetare lämnar samt vad detta har för ekonomisk effekt på företagets lönsamhet. / Due to the rising competition in labor markets, accounting firms face challenges in retaining their employees long term. The consequences of employee resignation is that employee turnover rates increase, which affects profitability. There are several reasons why employees choose to leave their workplace, which can be prevented if the company uses adequate strategies. The purpose of this study is to research how bigger companies versus SMEs apply strategies to insure employee retention and present if there are any differences or similarities between these that can be attributed to company size. The study also deals with the economic consequences of an employee’s resignation. A qualitative research design where four larger companies and four SMEs have been interviewed has been used to make up the empirical material. The research is based on a multiple case study in order to reach its purpose. The results of this study shows that there are differences in how different companies implement strategies to ensure employee retention long term, but that these differences depend more on the company’s distinguished business goals and cultures than on their size. The results also explain why employees leave the company and what effects this has on company profitability.

Background: The loss of experienced workers impact organizations significantly, but a positive work environment fosters job satisfaction, influencing retention rates. Employer branding emerges as a crucial strategy, aiming to enhance worker loyalty. However, the shift to remote work poses challenges, effecting internal communication and organizational culture.   Purpose: This study delves into the relationship between employer branding, internal communication, organizational culture in shaping employee retention, particularly in hybrid working environments.   Method: This study focuses on interpretivism as the guiding philosophy and inductive qualitative research was implemented to pursue the objective of the study. Semi-structured interviews with five respondents from four different industries were conducted. Thematic analysis was adopted for data interpretation, facilitating pattern identification.  Conclusions: Key findings reveal that hybrid working significantly influences employer branding, affecting organizational reputation, employee satisfaction, and talent retention. Flexibility in hybrid environments enhances positive employer branding perceptions. Effective internal communication, transparent processes, and inclusive cultures that prioritize employee well-being and recognition are critical. Competitive salaries, flexible work arrangements, and career development opportunities also play significant roles in retaining top talent.

The research investigates the retention of employees in the institutions of higher learning and the focus is placed on the Central University of Technology: Free State (CUT). The research is undertaken because the employees at the Central University of Technology: Free State, are resigning from their positions and join rival institutions and other organisations. This creates a problem on part of students, fellow employees and management. There is therefore, a need to find reasons behind these mass resignations of employees and also to look at the retention strategies that can be employed to keep employees at the Central University of Technology: Free State. In order to address the above purpose of the research, various retention strategies to keep talented employees are discussed, and factors that lead to employees leaving the institutions are also placed under the spotlight. The discussion shows that talent management has a direct relationship with employee needs and motivation. Qualitative and quantitative methods of research are used to analyse the retention strategies employed at the Central University of Technology: Free State. The findings of the research reveal that factors such as working environment, satisfying work-life, personal career development, emotional exhaustion as well as rewards versus performance exacerbate mass exodus of talented employees at the institution. It is also disclosed that there are retention strategies in place but are not effectively implemented. The findings revealed that managers and supervisors play crucial roles in the interpretation and implementation of strategies. Working conditions should be improved so that employees stay with the institution and perform to the best of their ability. Training should be made compulsory for every employee as it provides necessary skills. Best performance and rewards should match performance in order to keep employees at the institution. / Public Administration & Management / M.Admin. (Public Administration)

Bakgrund: Det finns idag en problematik för kunskapsintensiva företag i Sverige att lyckas bibehålla medarbetare. Detta då den svenska arbetsmarknadens utveckling har resulterat i fler högutbildade medarbetare, vilka generellt känner lite lojalitet gentemot arbetsgivaren. Företags önskan om att bibehålla medarbetare grundar sig i deras strävan att uppnå en låg personalomsättning då det anses positivt för företaget ur flera aspekter. För att studera denna problematik studeras Employee Retention-faktorer utifrån ett generationsperspektiv. Detta då medarbetares jobbvärderingar och därmed preferenser kring viktiga faktorer enligt tidigare forskning till stor del påverkas av generationstillhörigheten. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att utforska vilka faktorer som får medarbetare i olika generationer att stanna inom kunskapsintensiva företag. Detta genom att belysa Employee Retention utifrån ett medarbetarskap- samt generationsperspektiv. Metod: Studien syftar till att undersöka medarbetarnas upplevda verklighet, därför utgår studien från en kvalitativ forskningsmetod. Fallstudiemetoden har tillämpats, då denna är lämplig för att förstå komplicerade sociala företeelser. Ett centralt drag i fallstudier är att kombinera olika datainsamlingsmetoder, därför har 10 semistrukturerade intervjuer samt 25 frågeformulär med medarbetare på valt fallföretag genomförts. En analys av insamlad data har därefter genomförts, vilket resulterat i studiens slutsats. Slutsats: Studien har identifierat de viktigaste Employee Retention-faktorerna inom respektive generation och bekräftar därmed att generationstillhörigheten påverkar de faktorer som får medarbetare att stanna inom kunskapsintensiva företag. Studien har också påvisat att de viktigaste faktorerna som identifierats i respektive generationerna har en tydlig koppling till det psykologiska kontraktet. Om kunskapsintensiva företag tar hänsyn till dessa faktorer och därmed det psykologiska kontraktet, resulterar det i lojalitet och bibehållande av medarbetare. / Background: In the last couple of years there has been an ongoing change in the Swedish labor market where the knowledge-intensive companies find it harder to retain employees. This because highly educated employees generally are less experience less loyal towards the employer. Why companies wish to retain employees is because they aim for a low employee turnover, which is considered to be important for companies in several aspects. The study focus on important variables for employees, which makes them stay at a company, using a generation perspective. This perspective is used because employee’s work values and preferences are found to be affected by generational belonging. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore which variables that make employees with different generation belongings stay at knowledge-intensive companies. This by illustrating Employee Retention from the employee’s perspective and using a generation perspective. Method: The study applies a qualitative approach since the purpose is to explore the employee’s experienced reality. A case-study method is also applied since it’s suitable for complicated social phenomenon. Fundamental for a case-study is to combine different data collection methods, which is why 10 semi-structured interviews and 25 questionnaires are made within the case-company. The analysis of the data was then made with directions of an analysis strategy, which lead to the conclusion of the study. Conclusion: This study has identified the most important Employee Retention-variables within each generation, which also acknowledge that the generational belonging affects the variables that the employees value and consequently makes them stay at a company. The study has also shown that the most important variables that are identified in the different generations, also are found in the psychological contract. If knowledge-intensive companies identifies these variables and thereby strengthen the psychological contract, the output will be organizational loyalty and Employee Retention.

Research that focuses on the relationship between job satisfaction and employee retention is of interest to researchers in different disciplines and the intensification of these interests has rendered the two concepts heterogeneous. Research of this nature is necessary in the discipline Public administration, and in particular public human resource management as niche area of specialisation. Job satisfaction, as an independent variable is complex, in that it is an outcome of interdependent and sometimes contradicting personal and institutional factors, attributes, characteristics or correlates. The ability of public institutions to retain employees in key positions is dependent on the effectiveness of managers in implementing employee retention practices. Legislation in the South African public service entrusts managers with the authority and resources to institute employee retention practices. Using a quantitative research method in which a specially designed research questionnaire was used to gather data from a selected sample of respondents in the SAPS, this study creates awareness about employees’ degree of satisfaction with SAPS’ key institutional factors. The findings reveal, despite the SAPS having instituted practices that are key to retaining employees, key institutional factors that the respondents are satisfied and dissatisfied with. In addition to proposing the development and implementation of the employee retention policy and strategy, this study highlights significant roles that managers should perform to retain employees in the SAPS and in the South African public sector in general. / Public Administration / D.P.A.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the retention of employees in the Department of Transport in the Ministry of Works and Transport. The research was undertaken because employees in the Department of Transport are resigning rapidly, creating a high vacancy rate in the department. There is thus a need to investigate the reason/s why employees are leaving the institution so that strategies can be implemented to mitigate the high number of resignations. In order to obtain the desired results, the research project used both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The study revealed that the Department of Transport has no guidelines on retention of employees and this has negatively affected the department, particularly its failure to retain employees with specialised skills that are highly sought in the labour market. Another shortcoming of the Department of Transport is the failure to offer performance-related incentives and market-related remuneration. In the absence of these benefits, employees opt to resign and seek better remuneration packages elsewhere. It is therefore proposed that the department should review its efforts to retain employees, including the formulation of retention guidelines and reviewing the remuneration of employees. / Public Administration / M.P.A.

Women form a critical component of the workforce of South Africa. Therefore the issue of retaining women should be a strategic priority for organisations. This study focused on identifying general retention factors for women in a higher education institution. The research also examined the retention of women from two distinct leadership perspectives: how different leadership styles of managers and the presence of leadership opportunities for women could affect their retention. A cross-sectional quantitative research approach was followed. A non-probability simple random sample was drawn from permanent female staff at a higher education institution. Through the process of exploratory factor analysis, six retention factors were identified, namely unique needs, growth, recognition, work conditions, relationships and support. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted. The results indicated that various leadership constructs predicted the retention of women. Recommendations for retention strategies aimed specifically at women are suggested on the basis of these findings. / Business Management / M. Com.

Bakgrund: Det är av stor vikt för organisationer att arbeta med employee retention management för att maximera sina chanser att behålla sin personal. Att förlora medarbetare leder till höga kostnader för bland annat nyrekrytering och upplärning. Dessutom uppstår en kompetensförlust. Idag råder en stor lärarbrist i Sverige vilken förväntas öka ytterligare de kommande åren. Det är alltså inte enbart kostsamt för skolor att förlora sina lärare; det är också riskfyllt då det riskeras att den kompetens som krävs inte finns att tillgå på arbetsmarknaden.Syfte: Studien avser att förklara vilken faktor i psykologiska kontraktet som anses vara viktigast när lärare väljer att kvarvara i sin anställning samt i vilken ordning de undersökta faktorerna föredras av de medverkande lärarna. Därtill ämnas att studera vilka skillnader och/eller likheter som finns i vad lärare på kommunala respektive fristående skolor värderar.Teoretisk referensram: Denna studie utgår från teorier om employee retention management och studiens huvudteori är det psykologiska kontraktet som har sin grund i social exchange-teorin. De faktorer i det psykologiska kontraktet som studeras är möjligheter till karriärutveckling, stöd från och kommunikation med chefer, lön och finansiella belöningar, möjligheter till lärande och utbildning, social atmosfär och relation till kollegor, balans mellan arbetsliv och privatliv samt arbetsinnehåll.Metod: Studien är genomförd med kvantitativ metod bestående av enkätundersökning. Därtill används en komparativ design för att söka finna eventuella likheter och/eller skillnader mellan vad lärare på fristående och kommunala skolor värderar i sin anställning.Slutsats: Social atmosfär och relation till kollegor är den faktor i det psykologiska kontraktet som av de svarande lärarna anses vara den viktigaste till att de väljer att kvarvara i sin anställning – både vad gäller rangordning av faktorernas medelvärden och vid val av den allra viktigaste faktorn samt för lärare i både fristående och kommunala skolor. På samma sätt är möjligheter till karriärutveckling den faktorn som anses minst viktig i alla dessa avseenden, vilket skulle kunna förklaras av det faktum att läraryrket inte är karriärfokuserat. Den största skillnaden som återfinns i studien är att faktorn stöd från och kommunikation med chefer värderas högre av lärarna på de fristående skolorna än lärarna på de kommunala skolorna. / Background: It is of great importance for organizations to focus on employee retention management in order to maximize their chances to retain their employees. Losing employees results in high costs for recruitment and training etcetera. In addition, there will be a loss of competence. Today there is a shortage of teachers in Sweden which is expected to grow larger in the coming years. Not only is the loss of employees expensive; it is also critical because of the risk of not being able to find the right competence on the labormarket.Purpose: Present study aims to examine which factor in the psychological contract teachers consider being the most important when choosing to stay in their present employment and in which order the examined factors are preferred by the participating teachers. Moreover, the purpose of this study is also to investigate whether there are similarities and/or differences between what teachers in public and private schools value.Theory: This study originates from theories about employee retention management and the main theory is the psychological contract which in turn originates from the social exchange theory. The studied factors in the psychological contract are career opportunities, support from and communication with supervisors, salary and financial rewards, training and development opportunities, social atmosphere and relationship with co-workers, worklife balance, and job content. Method: This study was conducted through a quantitative method using a questionnaire. In addition, a comparative design was used in order to find which similarities and/or differences that exist between what teachers in private and public schools value in their employment.Conclusion: Social atmosphere and relationship with co-workers is the factor in the psychological contract that the teachers in this study consider to be the most important when they choose to remain in their employment – both when ranking the factors’ means and when choosing the single most important factor and also for teachers in both public and private schools. Similarly, the factor career opportunities is the least important factor in all these regards, which could be explained by the fact that the teaching profession is not career focused. The greatest difference between the two sectors is found in the factor support from and communication with supervisors where the teachers in the private schools find this factor more important than the teachers in the public schools do.

The objectives of the study were: (1) to determine the relationship between organisational commitment (measured by the Organisational Commitment Scale), retention factors (measured the Retention Factor Scale) and job embeddedness (measured by the Job Embeddedness Questionnaire), and (2) to determine whether employees from different gender, age, race, marital status, tenure and job level groups differ significantly in their levels of organisational commitment, retention factors and perceived job embeddedness. A quantitative survey was conducted on a purposive sample (N = 206) of medical and IT service staff in the South African client service sector. Correlational and inferential statistical analyses revealed significant relationships between organisational commitment, retention factors and perceived job embeddedness. Significant differences between gender, age, race, marital status, tenure and job level groups were also found. The findings contribute valuable insight and knowledge to the field of Career Psychology that can be applied in the retention of employees in the medical and IT industry. The study concludes with recommendations for future research and practice. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / (M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology))

M. Tech. Business Administration / The aim of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of South African National Defence Force retention of skilled employees scheme. It looks at the service conditions, pay and benefits. It also looks at working conditions, training, development and career management of soldiers.