The relationship between Human Resources practice and employee retention in the hospitality sector

Abstract

The scope behind this research was to analyse the students’ learning experience following their participation in the ‘Career Exposure Experience’. The majority of Year 10 (also referred to as Form 4) students attending state schools have the opportunity to experience this one-week exposure at a work-based environment. The purpose of the study was carried out in three geographical areas being the North, the Centre and the South of Malta, and is to evaluate the students’ viewpoints according to their firsthand experience of the ‘Career Exposure Experience’, basically whether they wish to further their studies after finishing secondary school or if entering the job market according to their skills and abilities. The geographical areas were taken into consideration to explore whether student’s thoughts, behaviours and choices vary according to the area/region they originate from. The three main colleges: Maria Regina, St Margaret and St Ignatius were considered as being major stakeholders in order for this study to take place. The research design of this study was carried out using the qualitative approach. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews with 12 students. The purpose of the semi-structured interviews was to gain information directly from the students about the ‘Career Exposure Experience’ and help the researcher to engage further discussion and suggest any room for improvement. Thematic analysis helped the researcher to sort out information into different themes. The findings provided ‘a good indication’ that the ‘Career Exposure Experience’ is quite a positive experience since students enjoy themselves, learn and get in touch with society and the realities that it brings along. Every student had the opportunity to express himself/herself and this helped the researcher to discuss the subject in more detail. The analysis was followed by a set of diligent recommendations proposed in term of proper actions thus hopefully improving the state-run programme, the ‘Career Exposure Experience’.

The relationship between Human Resources practice and employee retention in the hospitality sector. The tourism sector is one of the major contributing sectors to Malta’s economy. Malta’s hospitality sector consists of various hotels, with most of them offering similar facilities and services. Hence, in order to achieve competitive advantage organizations have to develop and apply effective policies and practice that fit the needs of their workforce. This research focuses on finding out what practices are currently being used by human resource managers in Malta as well as to identify if such poloicies are successful and resulting in the retention of their employees. In order to carry out this qualitative research, seven semi-structured interviews were carried out with different HR managers operating in five star hotels around Malta. By applying a thematic analysis approach, the responses of the interviews were analyzed to establish the main practices used and the challenges faced by HR managers with regards to employee retention.

The literature and findings gathered throughout this study have proven that a correlation between HR practices and employee retention does indeed exist. Unfortunately, it has also transpired that most hotels around Malta need to develop and focus more on providing their employees with work-life balance opportunities, such as family-friendly measures and flexibility working benefits if they are to achieve their desired competitive advantage. The scope of this research is to enable HR managers, front line managers and policy makers, to identify and implement measures that make the workplace experience for employees more satisfying and thus weaken the employees intent to leave.