Evaluating the impact of management practices on employee turnover in the Gauteng Department of Education

Abstract

Public and private entities, companies including government institution find themselves faced with enormous responsibilities of having to manage resources including human resources to maximise their growth and development in terms of the bottom line and otherwise. Due to the free mobility nature of human resources, the management of employee were found to be the most tedious as perpetual endeavours to minimise employee turnover intentions are crucial. Furthermore, its sensitivity to management practices create major challenges on how to deal with employees in a manner that does not impact negatively on sustainability, growth and the development organisations and institutions. In the process of managing employees, institutions loose some, retain some due to how manager utilizes management strategies and procedures, and carry out their routine activities. The management practices were thus considered the core on which employee retention hinges. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of management practices on employees’ turnover in the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE). A quantitative research methodology involving the use of a questionnaire to collect data from the respondents with the view of determining the extent of the relationship between the managers’ practices and the employee turnover and finding the root cause of the research problem was utilised. Data were analysed using table, percentages and Cronbach Alpha. Findings were made and depicted workload, feeling of being threatened of long serving employees, inadequate implementation of Employee Retention Programmes (ERPs), inconsistencies in the management’s actions and behaviour as attributing factors to employee turnover intentions. Findings corroborate that management practices have a direct contribution to employee turnover. The recommendations made include the full implementation ERPs, benchmark employee benefits and workload with similar but competitive institutions