The role of Organisational Justice and Mentorship in Turnover Intentions of Non-Teaching Staff in Universities: The case of Kyambogo University, Uganda

Abstract

Understanding that keeping knowledgeable and dedicated staff members is essential to an organization's success, Kyambogo University enhanced working conditions, added health insurance, and established possibilities for advancement. Regardless of these measures, some non-teaching staff intended to leave the organisation giving inequality in salaries and working conditions as key reasons. Guided by the equity theory, the study examined the influence of Organizational Justice and Employee Mentorship on turnover Intentions among non-teaching staff at KYU. Using a correlational survey design, data was collected from a random sample of 242 respondents with the help of a structured questionnaire. Pearson correlation and regression analyses revealed that Organizational Justice was positively (r =.51, P<0.01) related to turnover intentions due to the distributive and Interactional justice that enabled non-teaching staff to feel belongingness and enthusiasm about their job. Employee mentorship and Turnover intentions had a positive and significant correlation (r =.23, P< 0.01), because of role modelling, career development and social support that enhanced the feelings of commitment among employees to their organisation making them want to stay and work for it. Organizational Justice and Employee Mentorship, together positively predicted (β=.48, P<0.05) turnover intentions. Employee Mentorship increased the contribution of organisational justice to turnover intentions by 1%. This was likely due to mentorship that enables employees to feel that KYU values them and felt grateful to stay and work for it. Therefore, retention strategies that provide relevant mentoring of staff members results into better retention. Programs to empower employees to have effective participation and engagement in sustaining distributive and interactional justice as well as role modelling should freely be available to reduce turnover intentions among non-teaching staff.