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Employee perceptions of workforce retention strategies in a health system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Cheryl Belbin ,
Ronel Erwee  and
Retha Wiesner
Cheryl Belbin
Affiliation:
Queensland Health, Innisfail, QLD, Australia
Ronel Erwee
Affiliation:
University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia
Retha Wiesner
Affiliation:
University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia
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Abstract

This quantitative study explores the perceptions of 379 nurses using a survey to assess awareness of, participation in, and effectiveness of 28 workforce retention strategies offered by Queensland Health. Perceptions of workforce retention strategies were also examined to determine if any aspects of the strategy (retention factors) had an influence on turnover intention. The major findings were that respondents were more aware and had participated to a greater extent in those strategies that were included in Queensland Health policy or were part of the nursing Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. Strategies ranked as most effective included those that provided a monetary advantage and to a lesser extent, a professional development opportunity. A positive relationship was found between retention factors and decreased turnover intention.

Keywords

motivationturnoverretentionworkforce retention strategiesretention factors
Type
Practitioner perspective
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 18 , Issue 5: Healthcare management: Progress, problems and solutions , September 2012 , pp. 742 - 760
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2012

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