INFLUENCE OF WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY ON EMPLOYEE RETENTION IN NESTLÉ NIGERIA PLC, AGBARA

Abstract

This study examined the influence of workplace flexibility on employee retention in Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Agbara. It investigated the extent to which workplace flexibility affects employee retention, the impact of employees’ perceptions of workplace flexibility on their intention to remain with the organisation, and the organisational and managerial factors that strengthen or weaken this relationship. The growing adoption of flexible work arrangements in multinational corporations has raised important questions about their effectiveness in improving employee retention, particularly in manufacturing contexts in developing economies. A quantitative survey design was adopted, and data were collected using structured self-developed questionnaires administered to employees of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Agbara. Although a sample size of 170 was targeted, 93 valid responses were obtained through voluntary participation and used for analysis. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis were employed to test the hypotheses and examine relationships among workplace flexibility, managerial factors and employee retention. The findings revealed that workplace flexibility has a significant positive effect on employee retention. Employees with favourable perceptions of workplace flexibility demonstrated stronger intentions to remain with the organisation. In addition, organisational and managerial factors were found to significantly strengthen the relationship between workplace flexibility and employee retention, with managerial support emerging as a particularly strong predictor of retention outcomes. The study concludes that workplace flexibility is an important determinant of employee retention, but its effectiveness is largely dependent on supportive managerial and organisational environments. It recommends that organisations strengthen flexible work policies and develop managerial capabilities to enhance employee retention outcomes