Exploring Human Resource Management Perspectives of Employee Retention Practices in Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofit organizations face unique challenges to retain employees, impacting organizational productivity, efficiency, and services. Employee retention is one of the main challenges of human resource management and impacts an organization’s ability to survive and remain competitive. A lack of empirical data related to human resource managements’ perspectives of employee retention has made it unclear whether effective strategies are considered when developing retention efforts and practices. This lack of understanding has made a direct contribution to employee turnover. This study explored human resource management perspectives on employee retention practices within nonprofit organizations. This qualitative study utilized individual interviews which allowed the researcher to begin with an area of inquiry related to human resource managements’ perspectives and practices of employee retention in nonprofit organizations. The primary research questions were: 1. What do human resource management professionals perceive and believe about employee retention within their organization? 2. What practices have human resource management professionals implemented to address the issue of employee retention? 3. Do human resource management professionals feel the retention strategies are effective? Data were analyzed using Charmaz’s grounded theory (2000). This theory allowed for themes and concepts that are theoretically relevant to emerge. Participant and organizational demographics were also collected. Results indicated that four overarching themes and several subthemes and concepts were present, which consisted of 1. Human resource management practices and efforts of employee retention, 2. Human resource managements’ understanding of employee retention and influences, 3. Human resource management challenges, and 4. Human resource managements’ lack of clarity and inconsistencies. Human resource managements’ roles in employee retention efforts play a critical piece in organizational success. Leadership and management need to consider the understanding and involvement that human resource management has related to employee retention when addressing this issue thoroughly and effectively. This study's results may benefit leadership and human resource management in understanding the issue of employee retention, thus allowing for strategies and practices to be adopted or modified. Recommendations for future research include connecting the overarching themes that emerged from this study in relation to strategic human resource management as strategic human resource management lacks in areas of focus or objectives. In all, this study focused on identifying additional themes and concepts and human resource management roles and responsibilities related to employee retention understanding and practices. Further research would aid in strategy development and execution, leading to organizational efficiency improvements