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Friday, January 13, 2023

Discrimination in the workplace

 

JOHN MICHAEL ARCA

Divine Word College of Laoag

ABSTRACT

              Even though you might be familiar with the term "discrimination," do you fully understand what it entails? And are you aware of how it relates to your line of work?

              Making unwarranted disparities between individuals based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they formally or implicitly belong is known as discrimination. People may be treated unfairly on account of their color, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or any other category.

              Moreover. To treat someone differently or less favorably for some reason is to "discriminate" against them. Discrimination might happen at work, at school, or in a public setting like a mall or subway station. You may face discrimination from coworkers, supervisors, instructors, coaches, business owners, even pals from school.

              The major goal of this paper is to explain why our society is weaker due to a lack of variety that is perpetuated by discrimination. To do this, we must diversify higher education to produce better citizens and create a livelier, affluent society that benefits everyone.

Keywords: discrimination, gender, race, age

INTRODUCTION

              In today's world, discrimination is a fact of life. It can occur at any level, anytime, and anywhere. The office is no different. Employers must understand how to stop discrimination in their workplaces, though, as it seems to happen increasingly frequently.

              Workplace discrimination entails showing partiality for certain applicant and employee groups and treating them unfairly. It may result from erroneous perceptions that one is superior to the other due to differences in appearance, beliefs, or state of mind and body.

              Examining applicants' credentials as part of the hiring process will help you locate the best candidate for the position. However, are your selection criteria based on what they can actually offer and how they can perform the job?

              The need to fight prejudice is important for social, economic, and humanitarian grounds because labor is a clear necessity for survival. People's lives are significant because they depend on their jobs as their main source of money; otherwise, they would lose their feeling of self-worth (Collins, 2003).

              Stigma and discrimination are significant obstacles to employment reintegration in various nations and cultures (Brouwers, et al., 2016). Therefore, discriminating against someone entails depriving them of their full participation in the workforce, including by refusing to hire them, assigning them to particular occupational categories, lowering their salary, refusing to promote them, and so forth. All of these things are done because of traits or grounds that someone may have, such as gender, race, color, or age, which are typically unrelated to skills and job performance.

              In addition, discrimination is defined by the International Labor Organization [ILO] (2007) as "a differential and less favorable treatment of certain individuals" due to attributes including sex, color, and religion, "independent of their capacity to satisfy the criteria of the job." When describing discrimination, Willey (2012) questioned if a candidate was chosen based on legal or illegal criteria (such as experience, abilities, and qualifications) (like gender, pregnant women or disabled person). Whether or not an act of selection (treatment) is discriminatory relies on the criteria used to make the choice. When an employer chooses a candidate or makes a judgment based on a factor unrelated to the job, that behavior constitutes employment discrimination and is unfair treatment.

              When people are denied their equal rights—a privilege based on human rights—discrimination has the opposite effect. The majority of state constitutions now include the principle of equality, reflecting the decades-long unanimity of the international community to advance it.

Literature Review on Discrimination     

              Differentiating and treating certain persons more favorably than others is discrimination. It is connected to injustice and bias when making judgments or treating individuals based on their demographic characteristics. Disparate impact and disparate treatment are the two types of discrimination for which a business may be held liable (Riesch & Kleiner, 2005). Disparate impact occurs when a company's policies and procedures are discriminatory (Kapur & Kleiner, 2000). Disparate treatment occurs when an individual is subjected to discrimination because the employer dislikes his or her age, gender, color, etc.For instance, flight attendants are required to fall within a specified range of weight, height, and age. Researchers Ratsamy Phomphakdy and Brian H. Kleiner (199) looked into how to get rid of discrimination in the workplace. This study described workplace prejudice by employing criteria for hiring, firing, giving increases and bonuses, promoting, and delegating employees, such as race, age, gender, and cultural background. Similar findings have been made by other academics about the discriminatory nature of preferential treatment of employees based on their age, ethnicity, religion, and gender (Supateera & Kleiner, 1999).

 

              A study was done on the issue of religious discrimination in the workplace, especially for Muslim women who choose to wear headscarves in the USA. The study revealed that although though Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, unfriendly discrimination against women who wear headscarves has occurred in the job. In addition, Muslim Americans allegedly experienced the greatest levels of discrimination as a result of the connection between their religion and the extreme terrorism that the nation had to endure. Bullying also encompasses forms of prejudice, such as name-calling, avoiding eye contact, declining to serve, engaging in acts of intimidation, and staring. (Reeves, McKinney, & Azam, 2012). These attitudes have a psychological impact on the victims, which can lead to job dissatisfaction and eventually have an impact on the victims' self-esteem. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, there was a significant increase in bigotry towards Muslims. According to the research, the majority of businesses refused to hire any Muslims, and those who were hired experienced bullying and mental torture (Schulze & Kleiner, 1999).

 

              Another study on gender discrimination in Greece revealed that while men are more likely to be promoted, women are employed in greater numbers but are often kept in contingent roles like lower managerial levels. Men with higher promotions than women are equally qualified. The research found that employees' perceptions regarding their own gender were a major factor in gender discrimination. This demonstrates how supervisors discriminate against women when assigning work (Mihail, 2006). Due to their gender, male employees have a larger likelihood of promotion than female employees. (Quak & Kleiner, 2001)

              According to Booysen & Nkomo (2010), the political and historical context of South Africa is largely to blame for the prevalence of racial and gender inequality in the nation. While a majority of black men and white men concur that men should hold managerial positions, black women strongly disagree. This demonstrates that managers' tendency to discriminate when assigning work is a result of two major societal constructs: race and gender.

              A study on age discrimination revealed that it is typical to link older workers or aged employees with technical illiteracy, a lack of aptitude for learning and understanding new skills, the difficulty of breaking old habits, and a lack of the energy and adaptability needed for the workplace. Age discrimination takes many different forms (Osborn & Kleiner, 2005). For instance, a clear illustration would be when a young, inexperienced employee is given low-profile chores like photocopying documents and running other errands while the senior employee receives a higher position. (Ozcan, Ozkara, & Kizildag, 2011) Discrimination against younger employees can also be seen when older workers receive promotions over the younger ones due to their seniority (Xia & Kleiner, 2001). This discrimination can also be seen in a more subtle way when a senior employee who is close to retirement is moved into a smaller office space. Younger workers argue that they are underpaid despite having comparable qualifications. There have been instances where workers have accused businesses of age discrimination after not receiving company benefits owing to their age (Shah & Kleiner, 2005).

              According to data from earlier studies, there are many negative effects of discrimination at work, but it is unclear what causes these effects or how much of it is the fault of the managers in charge. This study examines the managers' demographic traits, which define them and may have an impact on how they behave while assigning duties to staff members.

Different Forms of Discrimination

Race

              Previous studies have found that race is one human difference that has consistently been found to be the root of the majority of cases of discrimination. (Tisserant, Wagner, & Barth, 2012).  In the study of South Africa, it was found that black and white men and women have been treated unequally over the years due to the history of the country. Managers who have employees that share the same race as them tend to get better treatment than the rest. This shows partiality (Dhesi, 1998). A study conducted in USA shows that Hispanic ethnicity is discriminated against on the average of one out of every five times they apply for a job. The same research shows that Hispanics face barrier to promotions as well. In the same way, Asian companies were sued by workers for favoring white men over Asian during downsizing (Dong & Kleiner, 1999), the case showed that promotion for middle and upper level management positions was given to whites who had less experience and qualifications than the Hispanics. Mexican-Americans are another race which has been in America for some time yet they still experience discrimination. They received some assistance in this area from the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s, but employment discrimination is still a problem today.  (Nguyen & Kleiner, 2000)

Gender

              In most nations, gender discrimination is widespread. It is one of the reasons that equality is still a problem in places like Saudi Arabia and Yemen (Marshall, 2007). Stereotypes and gender prejudice often go hand in hand. According to previous research studies, this type of prejudice was present in the majority of workplaces from South Africa to Greece and the United States (Huang & Kleiner, 2000). The battle for equality and the ego-centric conflict between men and women have not yet been resolved.(Chan & Kleiner, 2000) Given that women are the ones who become pregnant, pregnancy discrimination falls under the category of gender discrimination (Chester & Kleiner, 2001). It can be claimed that in most nations this constitutes discrimination based on a person's marital status because it is anticipated that a married woman will be able to conceive. This is viewed as gender discrimination in western and European nations where it is common for unmarried women to become pregnant. (Middlemiss & Downie, 2009) Several research on workplace discrimination have found that gender discrimination is one of the most prevalent types of inequality (Kuta & Kleiner, 2001)

Age

              When an employee's talents and qualifications are disregarded because of their age or seniority, this is known as age discrimination. (Peng & Kleiner, 1999) This is typical in Malaysian businesses where an employee's remuneration is determined solely by seniority. (Topper, 2009) Young workers with good qualifications must nevertheless complete their terms of service before they can be promoted or paid more. According to a study of American workers, older workers are more frequently the targets of intentional age discrimination. As a result, older workers feel more excluded and unwelcome at work than younger workers. The group has the power to eradicate age discrimination. (James, McKechnie, Swanberg, & Besen, 2013). Age is simply a number, so it shouldn't be used against an employee, and supervisors should be educated and taught in this (G, Shen, & Kleiner, 2001). Age discrimination is also impacted by governmental policies and laws (Kleiner & Shah, 2005)

How You Can Stop Discrimination in the Workplace

              The initiation of the effective elimination of bias and discrimination at work can be achieved through ongoing education and training opportunities. Create a safe environment with planned learning routes for all employees and make sure everyone is aware of proper behavior in the workplace.

Here are some strategies for preventing discrimination at work

Create a written policy that outlines the steps and regulations

              The anti-discrimination rules of companies might differ greatly depending on their culture and nature, but it's necessary to emphasize that employees have a right to work in a setting where their knowledge, skills, and abilities are the most crucial components of their success.

Inform all of your employees about prejudice

              It's crucial to make sure that every employee is aware of potential workplace discrimination issues, is familiar with your policies and processes, and knows how to report an allegation. Supervisors and managers should receive specialized training because they are your first line of defense against workplace discrimination. Additionally, you ought to make an effort to let staff members know that discrimination may result in legal action.

Think about many possibilities for communication channels

              Providing efficient and open channels of contact is a crucial component of the complaint process. Having more than one way for staff members to report prejudice is ideal since it will prevent supervisors from hiding problems from HR and top management. For an employee to be able to file a complaint, formal channels of communication such an intranet, emails, letters, or face-to-face meetings are essential. Some organizations even let anonymous reports to be submitted in order to launch an investigation.

Implement a program to prevent retaliation

              Retaliation is the most prevalent claim of employment discrimination, and it's also the one that's hardest for a corporation to refute. One of the trends in human resources is this. It is typical for an initial allegation of discrimination (other than retaliation) to fall short of proving a legal violation, while an additional retaliation charge will usually lead to a discrimination finding.

Engage in team-building exercises

              To promote improved communication and understanding among your staff, perform team-building activities in addition to training sessions that take place in a meeting setting. This is a fantastic chance to promote inclusion and diversity because there are lots of activities that can do so, such a potluck where everyone is asked to bring a food from their culture.

Focus groups

              Employee focus groups, which are frequently used to raise employee engagement, involve participants in a facilitated conversation on a certain issue. They provide you an additional chance to express how much you respect employee input and are dedicated to making things better. These conversations can also assist managers in proactively identifying workplace pressures, conflict frequency, and employee morale issues.

Provide managers and supervisors with a soft skills training

              We need to remember that employees might experience discrimination from their coworkers. When discussing discrimination, one may quickly think of situations when a person was denied a job or a promotion for unfair grounds or treated unequally by their direct supervisor or manager. This frequently includes harassment and bullying. Your managerial staff should be adequately qualified to handle these concerns in a timely and efficient manner rather than instantly involving HR. Continuous soft skills training can greatly enhance their interactions with subordinates and prevent issues like this from developing into a complaint of discrimination.

CONCLUSION

              Discrimination in the workplace is wrong and hurts both the person and the business. Both the employee and the employer may experience mental and emotional stress as a result of the situation. Employer and employee might both enjoy a great working environment and experience without workplace discrimination.

              All accusations of discrimination should be addressed swiftly and effectively, as this serves the interests of both the employer and the employee. When prejudice is tolerated, it lowers employee morale, increases stress, harms professional reputations, increases absenteeism, and leaves customers and employees unhappy.

REFERENCES

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Gebert, D., & Boerner, S. (2011). Do religious differences matter? An analysis in India. Team        Performance Management: An international Journal vol. 17, 224-240.

James, J. B., McKechnie, S., Swanberg, J., & Besen, E. (2013). Exploring the Workplace                           Impact of International/Unintentinal age Discrimination. Journal of Managerial                     Psychology vol. 28, 907-927.

Lokman, T., & Atikah, Q. (2018, January 28). Workplace woes: Workplace discrimination is           common in Malaysia. The New Straits Times. Retrieved April 20, 2019, from                       https://www.nst.com.my/news/exclusive/2018/01/329441/workplace-woes-                          workplace-discrimination-common-malaysia

Mohamed, A. A. A. (2017, November 25). Laws ensure equality in workplace. The New                  Straits Times. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from                                                                            https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2017/11/307251/laws-ensure-equality-                              workplace

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Ozcan, K., Ozkara, B., & Kizildag, D. (2011). Discrimination in Health Care Industry: a                     research on public hospitals . Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An international                            Journal vol. 30, 22- 40.

Paulson, N., & Menjivar, C. (2012). Religion, the state and disaster releif in the United States        and India. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 179-196.

Reeves, T. C., McKinney, A. P., & Azam, L. (2012). Muslim women’s workplace experiences;        implications for strategic diversity initiatives. Equality, DIversity and Inclusion: An               International Journal, 49-52.

Richardson, B. A., Webb, J., Webber, L. S., & Smith, K. (2013). Age discrimination in the               evaluation of job applicants. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 43(1), 35-44.                doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.00979.x   

Tisserant, P., Wagner, A. L., & Barth, I. (2012). The propensity to discriminate: a diagnostic           indicator for diversity management. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International                 Journal vol. 32, 36-48.

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. (2018). Discrimination.                       Retrieved January 30, 2018, from                                                                                                  https://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/discrimination.

 

Ethical Conundrums Concerning Environmental Sustainability

 Benjamin S. Mercado Jr.

Divine Word College of Laoag

Abstract

The area of environmental philosophy known as "environmental ethics" examines the moral relationship between people and the environment. It includes a developing body of applied ethics that is crucial for assisting individuals, organizations, and governments in choosing the principles that will direct their way of life, their course of action, and their position on a variety of environmental issues. This is one of the ethical frameworks that allow us to make choices that benefit the environment. It is crucial to comprehend how environmental ethics can be practised at work and eventually ingrained into daily life. The objective is to achieve a sustainable environment by increasing awareness of the risks posed by rising pollution levels and climate change. Also, to ensure that human actions do not further harm the natural world, environmental ethics are studied. This is essential if we want future generations to enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer, including a happy, prosperous life in harmony with the environment. Every single one of us has a responsibility to act now to save the earth for future generations 

Keywords: environment, ethics, sustainability, issues, earth

Introduction

 

The term "environment" refers to everything that surrounds us, both natural and man-made. When we think of "environmental ethics," we usually think of the non-human natural environment. "Environmental ethics" refers to human attitudes and values toward nature that influence individual behaviour and government policy.

Environmental ethics is the study of normative concerns and principles about human interactions with the environment, as well as their context and outcomes, and how these interactions should be handled in light of ecological difficulties. It includes a significant area of applied ethics that is essential for guiding agents like people, businesses, and governments in forming the values that influence their way of life, their course of action, and their policies regarding the full spectrum of environmental issues.

One central tenet of environmental ethics is that humans should protect the environment for future generations, as well as to respect and honour the human-nature relationship. This means that people must take precautions to ensure that they do not harm the environment in any way. People must work to conserve and protect natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations. This is especially important given the world's growing population. If people do not act now, future generations will be left to deal with the consequences of human actions on our planet. Another crucial ethical principle is that humans are Earth's stewards. This means that people are accountable for environmental protection.

Business ethics education included a study of environmental ethics. This is done to make commercial organizations more conscious of how their actions affect both people and the environment. Business exists to serve people as well as make a profit. Any business decision should always take into account its ethical implications for the surrounding environment and community.

If environmental ethics are strictly followed and produce good results, the environment will be able to sustain itself and provide a good life for future generations. The United Nations (UN) defines sustainability as "meeting current needs without jeopardizing future generations' ability to meet their own." Environmental ethics determine the state of environmental sustainability. It depends on whether human attitudes toward nature are positive or negative. There is no question regarding the need for sustainability. In “The Concept of Environmental Sustainability,” Robert Goodland substantiates a history documenting this need, presenting proponents ranging from Mill and Malthus to Meadows and Brundtland et al., and puts forth a definition of “environmental sustainability as the maintenance of natural capital” and as a concept apart from, but connected to, both social sustainability and economic sustainability. These arguments are not repeated here but rather accepted as valid, supported, and used as a basis from which to proceed to further develop this concept.  (Morelli, 2021)

Environmental sustainability is a hotly contested topic, and people must take an ethical approach to it. To create a sustainable environment, this paper aims to raise awareness of the dangers posed by escalating pollution levels and climate change. Additionally, to educate people about various environmental ethics, their effects, and solutions.

The following are some ethical issues that need to be addressed to have a sustainable environment.

Patterns of resource consumption and the need for equitable utilization

How should we balance the environmental impact of manufacturing versus distribution? Environmental ethics is concerned with issues concerning how we use and distribute resources. Can individuals justifiably use resources so differently that one individual uses resources many times more lavishly than another who barely has enough to survive? A just world must have more equitable resource sharing than we currently have. We are concerned about the equitable distribution of resources at the global, national, and local levels. There are rich and poor countries that must be addressed. Every country has both rich and poor communities. This unequal distribution of wealth and access to land and its resources is a major source of concern for the environment. The basis between the people and the common property resources is an equitable sharing of resources. We will need to learn a lot from our traditional cultures in this regard. (Swain, 2020). The gap between haves and have-nots is growing. The use of resources varies between individuals, communities, and countries. The well-to-do, educated urban dweller consumes far more resources and energy than the traditional rural person. This unequal distribution of wealth and access to land and its resources is a major concern for the environment. Sustainable development for urban, rural, and wilderness communities is based on equitable resource sharing.

Gender equity is essential.

Another ethical concern is the need for gender equity. If gender equality is the aim, gender equity is the means to that goal. Gender equality "does not imply that men and women will become the same, but rather that men's and women's rights, responsibilities, and opportunities will not be determined by whether they are born male or female." Gender equity refers to the equitable treatment of men and women based on their respective needs, which may include equal treatment or treatment that differs but is considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations, and opportunities.

According to the Gender and Development Network (GADN), gender inequalities and barriers prevent women from participating in environmental debate and action at all levels. Along with unequal access to resources, this limits women's ability to adapt to climate change and respond to events such as drought, soil degradation, and deforestation. It also results in gender-blind, ineffective environmental policies.

Gender and environmental considerations are critical for enabling communities to achieve resilience and adapt to and recover from environmental challenges. Women are powerful change agents who can play an important role in protecting the resources on which they and all of us rely.

Keeping resources safe for future generations

Preserving resources for future generations is one environmental ethic that we fail to follow. This ethical issue must be considered when we use resources in an unsustainable manner. If we overuse and misuse resources and energy from fossil fuels, future generations will struggle to survive. Environmental protection is critical to reducing the destruction of ecosystems caused by a variety of anthropogenic activities. Humans have a moral obligation to protect the environment from pollution and other activities that contribute to environmental degradation. It is part of human obligations to protect their natural habitat. Failure to do this concerns the sustainability of the earth and also the lives of future generations. According to National Ocean Service, these are ten things to do to preserve resources. (a) Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reduce waste. Follow the three "R's" to save natural resources and landfill space; (b) Volunteer. Participate in community cleanups by volunteering; (c) Educate. Help others understand the importance and value of natural resources; (d) be water-wise. The less water used, the less wastewater and runoff will ultimately end up in the ocean; (e) Choose sustainably. Learn how to make smart choices; (f) Shop carefully. Bring a reusable shopping bag and purchase fewer plastic items; (g) Use light bulbs with a long life. Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by using energy-efficient light bulbs; (h) Plant a tree. Air and food are produced by trees. They aid in energy conservation, air purification, and halting climate change; (i) No chemicals should be put into our waterways. Pick non-toxic chemicals for your home and workplace; and (j) Less drive, bike more.

Environmental sustainability is acting in a way that preserves the environment while not endangering the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Environmental sustainability is a feasible objective if we band together as people and companies right away. A few examples of environmental sustainability that can be put into practice right now include conserving renewable resources by promoting sustainable farming, planting home gardens to grow your food and buying local products, buying carbon offsets to support reforestation and other regenerative projects, avoiding the use of fossil fuels by switching to renewable energy sources, and reducing pollution by composting and supporting other environmentally friendly practices. 

Conclusion

The idea of environmental ethics offers more than just the chance for passionate discussion on the merits of sustainable development. It has had a significant impact on the development of viewpoints and ideas that are new to global governance and that aim to express the true beliefs and values that should, in an ideal world, guide decision-making for the benefit of people and the rest of the living world. 

Concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems and the social issues that humanity faces are intertwined with sustainable development. As we have lost the significance of sustainable living in modern society, we have also somehow lost the deeper metaphysical dimension of sustainability. Sustainable living is a way of life that aims to minimize how much a person or society uses their resources as well as the natural resources of the planet. The goal of those who live sustainably is to live in a way that respects the Earth's natural cycles and ecology maintains natural balance and honours humanity's symbolic connection to it.

The health and well-being of future generations will be severely jeopardized if decisive action is not taken today to achieve environmental sustainability. As intensive farming affects the fertility of the land and the capacity of the water supply, the food supply will become unstable. The effects of climate change will be amplified by global warming brought on by greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, resulting in more extreme weather, floods, droughts, and changes in growing seasons that will upend society. Our quality of life, as well as the ability of local communities and the larger society to thrive, will be significantly hampered by pollution of the land, air, and water. Environmental sustainability, in other words, is essential to both our survival and that of the planet.    

References

Ellevate. (n.d.). Why We Need Gender Equity Now. Forbes. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellevate/2017/09/14/why-we-need-gender-equity-now/?sh=4559e2a677a2

 

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Professionals," Journal of Environmental Sustainability: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 2. 

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https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2005099.pdf

 


Sunday, December 25, 2022

Organization turnover and how to prevent it

 JAY-MHAR C. GAOIRAN

Master in Business Administration

Academic Paper - Human Resource Management

ABSTRACT

The word "employee turnover" is commonly used in commercial contexts. Even though there have been many studies on this topic, very little research has been done on examining the causes and contributing factors of turnover as well as providing some practical strategies that managers can use to ensure that employees remain in their respective organizations to increase organizational effectiveness and productivity.

The main objective of this paper is to understand the motivations behind employee turnover as well as its causes and essential components as shown in the relevant literature. This conceptual paper also provides several potential strategies for preventing employee turnover and keeping people with the organizations.

Thus, this paper has discussed key factors in explaining the occurrence of staff turnover and discusses reasonable retention strategies to deal with these concerns.

Keywords: employee, turnover, factors, causes, retain, strategies, organization.

INTRODUCTION

Employee turnover rate can influence a company's bottom line. High turnover typically indicates a problem because satisfied employees tend to stay with their company. For some reasons, not all employees who leave the company is unhappy - others may retire, move away, leave for personal reasons, want to change careers, or even start their own business. A company's finances and morale may suffer from a high employee turnover rate. Business owners should take action to discover probable causes, assess turnover rates, calculate turnover costs, and then handle turnover issues if management has reason to believe that staff turnover is a problem within the organization.

Based on the research conducted by Al-Suraihi, et al., (2021), there are numerous factors, including job stress, job satisfaction, job security, work environment, motivation, pay, and benefits, might cause individuals to leave their jobs. An organization's productivity, sustainability, competitiveness, and profitability can all be adversely affected by personnel turnover, which also has a significant financial impact on businesses.

Consequently, to adopt specific tactics in enhancing employee performance and lower turnover, businesses must first understand the demands of their workforce. Implementing solutions will boost employee's motivation, productivity, and job satisfaction, which can lower employment issues, absenteeism, and employee turnover.

The Negative Outcome of Employee Turnover to Businesses

Markovich (2019) emphasized that high turnover rates can have a negative impact on a company and its employees' well-being in many ways. It is easy to stray away from the organization's primary mission and vision given the constant requirement to hire and train new employees. Businesses may provide a higher-caliber staff that improves their bottom line by keeping their current employees. Businesses may lower employee turnover by providing staff with the right training, rewarding them for a job well done, and building a culture of trust within the workplace.

Similarly, according to Nielsen (2021), she pointed out in her article titled Identifying and Addressing Employee Turnover Issues, that when an employee leaves the organization, it costs the company mainly in productivity, money, and time.

·         Productivity – when a person leaves, productivity typically suffers because other employees may have to temporarily take on some of the previous employee's responsibilities.

·         Money – along with the financial expenses of lower production, employer might need to pay staff overtime to pick up the slack left by the former employee until a replacement is located. Additionally, employer can be required to pay for the costs of hiring a replacement and filing for unemployment benefits.

·         Time – replacing a former employee will also need to invest time and money in advertising, doing interviews, and other recruitment methods. Employers must keep in mind the time and effort they put into finding and educating the former employee. When they lose a lot of staff, they waste time and money.

Hence, even after a company recruits and hires a new employee, productivity will still suffer as the person adjusts to their new position. Depending on the job, temporary employees may occasionally be able to pick up the slack. In other words, losing an employee cost the company money because it requires more resources to resume productivity or performance at the previous level. Given the high costs involved in turnover, businesses generally want to avoid it as much as they can.

Sources of Job Dissatisfaction

Employees do not always switch jobs because they are unhappy in their current position. They can be drawn away by higher income, better benefits, or better employment opportunities if the talents they possess are in demand. Employers can take efforts to boost morale in their companies and make individuals be satisfied and productive, since they have no control over what is happening with other businesses, how much they pay, or which perks they provide. Because of this, it is crucial to distinguish between employees who quit because they are dissatisfied and those who do so for other reasons.

The following are some of the most common reasons for high turnover in businesses as explained by Nielsen (2021):

·         A mismatch in the job's requirements and the employee's skills – Employees who are given tasks that are too challenging for them or whose skills are not fully used may get demoralized and leave their jobs. Lack of knowledge of the qualifications needed to fill a position may lead to the hiring of either underqualified or overqualified employees.

·         Inadequate equipment, tools, or facilities – If working circumstances are poor or if the workplace lacks necessary amenities like enough lighting, furniture, restrooms, and other health and safety regulations, employees won't be ready to put up with the inconvenience for very long.

·         Lack of potential for growth or advancement – Before hiring, this should be stated to avoid misleading the employee if the role is essentially a dead-end proposition. It is important to give a clear description of the job without giving the employee unrealistic expectations of future growth or progress.

·         A sense of being unappreciated – It makes sense that since most employees want to do a good job, they would also like to be acknowledged and commended for it. Companies must make sure to show they value their employees.

·         Inadequate or poor training and supervision – Employees require direction and instruction. An unfamiliar job may require additional assistance for new hires to learn. Similarly, employees may have performance gaps and a lack of confidence in their skills if there is no training program in place.

·         Unfair or inadequate wage arrangements – Low compensation or unequal pay are major sources of frustration that can lead some employees to leave their jobs.

Even businesses with strong employer branding are not going to be perfect. The objective is to establish a positive work atmosphere where employees feel supported. Business owners can build a company where problems can be rapidly addressed and remedied when they encourage employees to share their knowledge and comments.

Factors to Consider Before Terminating Employees

Companies must take immediate action if one of their employees is failing to live up to expectations. Acting hastily to fire an employee is harmful for a company. To lessen the liabilities and offer the employee plenty of room to develop, business owners may use a reasonable and fair method.

According to an online article published in staffleasing-peo.com, the following can be considered before terminating an employee. A company should find out when the employee began underperforming. Managers should review the employee's work to determine when the performance problems started if they feel employees are not performing according to expectations. Another is if companies ever need to defend their choice to fire an employee, documentation will be their strongest ally. These records demonstrate efforts to support employee's success. It is crucial to be thorough because this evidence of mediocre performance might be what prevents companies from facing legal action.

Another consideration is setting clear expectations. Managers cannot just assume that their employees are aware of what is required of them. It is important to communicate expectations clearly, which can be greatly helped by effective performance assessments. Also, one must be a helpful coach. Business owners serve as their staff members' coaches in numerous ways. It may be less expensive to improve their skills than to start the hiring process over. Managers may also create a performance improvement plan. when mentoring an employee at the same time noticing significant performance difficulties.

With the right human resource support, managers may decrease some of the risks and responsibilities associated with being an employer. They should make sure to attract, retain, and develop the best employees. To explore strengthening human resource practices, most business owners provide trainings to human resource personnel especially on trends in human resource development and management.

How to Prevent Employee Turnover

If a business wants to retain its personnel on board, it must identify the advantages of its operations that motivate them to do so. Employees' desire to stay may be influenced by a few internal factors such as desirable benefits, pleasant working conditions, opportunity for growth or advancement, pay, and job security.

Some strategies that businesses or managers can use to prevent employee job dissatisfaction at work are providing clear set of goals and instructions, constant communication with subordinates, maintaining no favoritism policy, and giving employees recognition.

Along with internal reasons that influence whether employees want to leave or stay, external influences might also have an impact on turnover rate. A company may try to make the job as desirable as they can to lessen the probability that unnecessary causes may tempt employees away, even while employers cannot do much about these conditions. Reducing undesired turnover by providing employees with perks that they regard as privileges that "make or break" a position.

Honing and Developing Employees

The most valuable asset in any company is probably its employees. Employee development is the process of assisting them in honing and improving their abilities in accordance with personal and organizational objectives. The performance of a firm is directly impacted by the skilled and motivated staff that results from employee development.

Working toward professional growth is the responsibility of each employee. But both the company and the employee gain from promoting and allowing opportunities for growth. According to Herrity (2021), there are many key tactics for developing employees such as train for success, coaching, nurturing professional networks, and others.

·         Train for success – for the development of current employees as well as the onboarding of new ones, training is a significant task. Training promotes both hard and soft abilities, knowledge, and confidence necessary to execute jobs. An employee is more likely to perform well at work when their confidence is increased.

·         Coaching - it entails a senior staff member collaborating closely with junior or less seasoned workers, which contributes to the continual development of organizational leaders in the future. Employees that receive coaching gain new perspectives and learn how to solve challenges on their own.

·         Nurturing professional networks - giving employees the chance to network with others in the industry helps to develop them. Managers may introduce mentors, businessmen, and professional organizations to their staff. Their minds are widened, and their perspectives are changed by networking.

Other ways companies develop their employees include setting as a good example and encouraging self-development, creating individual development plans, setting performance metrics, simulating situations, giving regular feedback, delegating responsibilities, engaging in cross-training, taking career progression seriously, dedicating resources, retention, and eliminating barriers.

CONCLUSION

An organization's success and the output of other, apparently loyal employees suffer from high employee turnover. Having a high turnover rate results in losing valuable employees who are expensive to replace. Additionally, high employee turnover reduces productivity since surviving employees may be forced to perform many tasks at once or be given assignments that are outside the scope of their training.

Employers must use certain tactics to increase employee retention through increased job satisfaction. An employer should first evaluate his compensation packages, interpersonal dynamics at work, opportunities for career and professional growth, and workplace assistance. Depending on the qualifications, experience, and length of employment of their staff, employers should provide competitive wage packages.

Both employee productivity and attrition rates are impacted by the company culture. Since a supportive work environment increases job satisfaction and decreases turnover, management must foster it. The quality of the workplace is also impacted by relationships at work. Employers must therefore develop plans that encourage internal harmony. Additionally, a good workplace must have supplies and equipment, and the personnel must be trained in how to use the supplies that are available.

 

 

 

REFERENCES

Al-Suraihi, W., et al, (2021). Employee Turnover: Causes, Importance and Retention Strategies. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352390912_ Employee_Turnover_ Causes_Importance_and_Retention_Strategies

Carey, S. (2017). 6 Ways to Overcome Job Dissatisfaction. Retrieved from https://www.inspiringinterns.com/blog/2017/11/6-ways-to-overcome-job-dissatisfaction/

Charaba, C. (2022). The real cost of losing an employee. Retrieved from https://www.peoplekeep.com/blog/employee-retention-the-real-cost-of-losing-an-employee

Five Things to Do Before Terminating an Employee. (2020). Staff Leasing. https://staffleasing-peo.com/employer/5-things-to-do-before-terminating-an-employee/

Herrity, J. (2021). 14 Effective Tips for Developing Employees. Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/developing-employee 

How to Improve Employee Satisfaction. (n.d.). Talent Bridge. https://talentbridge.com/blog/how-to-improve-employee-satisfaction/

Markovic, M. (2019). The Negative Impact of a High Turn Over Rate. Retrieved from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/negative-impacts-high-turnover-rate-20269.html

Nelson, N. (2021). Identifying and Addressing Employee Turnover Issues. Retrieved from https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/identifying-and-addressing-employee-turnover-issues

Panda, I. (2019). Employee Retention in Workplace. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/employee-retention/

Wroblewski, M. (2018). Negative Effects of Turnover. Retrieved from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/negative-effects-turnover-18531.html

 


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