Multi-Generational Differences: Females’ Perspectives on Factors Influencing Employee Retention

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the multi-generational differences in the driving and inhibiting factors that influence employee retention from a female perspective. A qualitative research design was used, and 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analysed through thematic coding using ATLAS.ti. The findings revealed that emotional and psychological well-being, inclusive leadership and value alignment are central factors that influence retention, particularly for women navigating personal and professional responsibilities. Multi-generational differences emerged in participants’ perceptions of organisational support, leadership styles and career development opportunities. The study highlights the importance of fostering inclusive and empathetic workplace cultures that support life transitions, promote diversity and build trust through transparent communication. Recommendations are provided to guide human resource practitioners and organisational leaders in developing retention strategies that are responsive to generational needs and gender-specific challenges.

Die doel van hierdie studie was om die multigenerasieverskille in die motivering- en stremmingsfaktore wat werknemerbehoud beïnvloed vanuit ʼn vroulike perspektief te ondersoek. ʼn Kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp is gebruik, en 20 semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer. Die data is ontleed deur tematiese kodering met behulp van ATLAS.ti. Die bevindinge het getoon dat emosionele en sielkundige welstand, inklusiewe leierskap en waardebelyning sentrale faktore is wat behoud beïnvloed, veral vir vroue wat persoonlike en professionele verantwoordelikhede navigeer. Multigenerasieverskille het na vore gekom in deelnemers se persepsies van organisasie-ondersteuning, leierskapstyle en loopbaanontwikkelingsgeleenthede. Die studie beklemtoon die belangrikheid van die bevordering van inklusiewe en empatiese werkplekkulture wat lewensoorgange ondersteun, diversiteit bevorder en vertroue deur deursigtige kommunikasie bou. Aanbevelings word verskaf om menslikehulpbronpraktisyns en organisasieleiers te lei in die ontwikkeling van behoudstrategieë responsief tot generasiebehoeftes en geslagspesifieke uitdagings.

Inhloso yalolu cwaningo ukuhlonza umehluko phakathi kwezizukulwane eziningi mayelana nezinto ezinomthelela ekuqhutshweni nasekuvinjelweni kokugcinwa kwabasebenzi emsebenzini, ngokubona kwabesifazane. Kwasetshenziswa ucwaningo oluhleliwe oluyikhwalithi kanti futhi nemibuzo engama-20 engahleliwe ngokuphelele nayo yasetshenziswa. Idatha yahlaziywa ngokusebenzisa ukuhlukanisa ngemixholo ye-ATLAS.ti. Imiphumela yadalula ukuthi inhlakahle ngokwengqondo nangokwemizwa, ubuholi obubandakanyayo kanye nokuhambisana ngokwamanani kungumgogodla wokugcinwa kwabasebenzi emsebenzini, ikakhulukazi abesifazane abanezibopho zabo siqu kanye nezasemsebenzini. Umehluko phakathi kwezizukulwane eziningi, waqala emva kwemicabango yababambiqhaza yokwesekwa kwenhlangano, izindlela zobuholi kanye namathuba okuthuthukisa umsebenzi. Ucwaningo lugqamisa ukubaluleka kokugqugquzela ukubandakanya kanye namasiko okusebenza anozwelo eseka ukuguqula impilo, agqugquzela ukwehluka kanti futhi akha ukwethembana ngokuxhumana okusobala. Kuhlinzekwe ngezincomo ezizokweluleka abasebenzi ababhekelela izindaba zabasebenzi kanye nabaholi benhlangano ekusunguleni amaqhinga azohlangabezana nezidingo zesizukulwana kanjalo nezingqinamba eziqondene nobulili obuthile.