Understanding HR practices in Irish hotels and their implications for employee retention in the sector

Authors

Ramos de Souza, Mila

Issue Date

2015

Degree

MBA in Human Resource Management

Publisher

Dublin Business School

Rights

Items in Esource are protected by copyright. Previously published items are made available in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/copyright holder.

Abstract

The research investigates the impacts of human resource practices on levels of employee retention in the Irish hotel industry context. The material gathered in this study provides an understanding of the following HR practices: training and development, rewards and employee wellbeing. The primary survey was conducted among the HR professionals in the hotels in Dublin by face-to-face interviews. The results suggest that although most participants perceive the importance of HR, the hotels can develop their practices better in order to retain their employees. It is argued that the current and emerging challenges facing the industry demand an approach to HRM that is far more strategic in which practices and policies can contribute for the decision of employees stay in the companies. In the conclusion, a conceptual framework is presented showing the relation between focused HR practices and employee retention. Therefore, the results from the research can be really useful for Irish hotel, as a reduction in employee turnover would be a significant factor for competitive advantage. Author Keywords: HRM, HR practices, training, reward, employee wellbeing, employee retention, hotels, Ireland