THE ROLE OF JOB CHARACTERISTICS ON THE RETENTION OF MILLENNIAL EMPLOYEES IN PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN THE COUNTIES OF KERICHO AND BOMET IN KENYA

This paper examines the relationship between job characteristics and retention of millennial of employees in private hospitals in Kenya. The paper is based on a study designed to assess socio-technical factors that influence retention of millennial employees in private hospitals in Bomet and Kericho Counties. This study adopted descriptive research design. The target population comprised all employees of private hospitals in Bomet and Kericho Counties. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select the respondents of this study. The basis of stratification was age of employees. Questionnaire, interview schedule and content analysis were the main data collection tools. Qualitative data were analyzed in form of frequency counts and percentages.Karl Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient was computed using a two tailed test at 0.01 significance level to establish the level of correlation between job characteristics and retention of millennial employees. The r-values ranged from 0.651 to 0.868. All the r- values were therefore above 0.500 and that showed there is a strong correlation between job characteristics and retention of millennial employees in private hospitals in Bomet and Kericho Counties. Of greatest significance was the stressful nature of the jobs performed with r-value of 0.863 which made them desire to leave their employer to another and the importance of their job to the clients with r-value of 0.783 which made them desire to continue working. There was therefore a significant relationship between job characteristics and retention of millennial employees at their work places. The hospital management should strive to increase retention of millennial employees by transforming its typical environments through re-designing of jobs to enable them receive relevant feedback, credit for their work and reduce stress.