The Effect of Recruitment Practices on Employee Retention in Selected Large Scale Apparel Firms in Kandy District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The main focus of this study is to identify the effect of recruitment practices on employee retention in selected large scale apparel firms in Kandy district. In literature, there is an empirical and theoretical knowledge gap of relationship between the recruitment practices and employee retention. Therefore, the problem of this study is that ‘is there an effect of recruitment practices on employee retention in selected large scale apparel firms in Kandy district?’ This study is in a mixed approach. Under the  quantitative approach, the data were collected from a randomly selected sample of 127 sewing machine operators (SMOs) in selected large scale apparel firms in Kandy district by using a structured questionnaire consisting of 47 statements with five point Likert scales.  In the process of data analysis under this, both univariate and bivariate analytical methods with the SPSS (16.0 Versions) were used .Under the qualitative approach, several interviews were carried out with 2 respondents. This study found out that there was a significant positive relationship between the recruitment practices and the employee retention in selected large scale apparel firms in Kandy district. Further, it revealed that the employee retention is positively correlated with the recruitment strategies and the recruitment policy. It is concluded that there was a positive effect of recruitment practices on employee retention in selected large scale apparel firms in Kandy district and it is essential for the  HR department in the apparel firms to have much concern on these recruitment practices and follow them effectively in order to improve the employee retention.

Keywords: Apparel Firms, Employee Retention, Kandy District, Recruitment Practices