Predictive factors influencing employee retention at Botswana Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Botswana

Abstract

Retaining employees is critical to the success of the business. The goal of this study was to look into the predictive factors influencing employee retention at the Botswana Union Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Botswana. 68 workers who are both permanent and eligible for pensions, as well as all pastors and support personnel with three years or more of service were the participants. Workers with contracts and who have been working for fewer than three years of experience were excluded from the study. Extrinsic and intrinsic factors were found to be the two factors of influence. A quantitative causal study design was employed. A partially adopted questionnaire was used to gather the information. Likert scale evaluations with a five (5) point range were utilized in this study. The findings showed that there is a significant impact of both the extrinsic (Financial Benefits, Leadership, Working Environment), with an adjusted r-square of .096, and intrinsic factors, with an adjusted r-square of .238 (Internalization of Organizational Values & Beliefs, Faith Factor, Sense of Security, Contentment with the Job, Organizational Commitment) on employee retention. However, extrinsic factors were found to have less weight than intrinsic ones. Among the extrinsic factors, the areas of strength were the financial benefits and good working environment while the weakness was leadership. Continuance and normative commitment were the weakest among the intrinsic factors. Among the intrinsic factors, the areas of strength were the Faith factor and affective commitment. Based on the findings it was recommended that the BUC and local Conference leaders must improve on the financial benefits, leadership, and good working environment to effectively retain their personnel. Being faith-based institutions, it is advised that the organization encourage the employees to put their faith into practice in the workplace to follow their calling and know that they are God’s stewards wherever they are found.