A Dissertation Submitted to the School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirement for the Award of the Master of Business Administration in
Corporate Management (MBA-CM) of Mzumbe University
This study aimed to assess factors affecting employee retention in Tanzania’s
Government institutions with the specific case of National Health Insurance Fund.
To achieve that purpose, the study specifically assessed economic factors influencing
employee retention, explored the institutional supports and examined the physical
environment that influence employee retention. A cross-sectional design involved
both qualitative and quantitative approaches, was employed. A total of 178 NHIF
employees were involved in this study. Data were collected by using semi-structured
interview, semi-closed questionnaire and focus group discussion. Content analysis
was used to analyze qualitative data, whereas quantitative data were analyzed by
using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 24.0 to get both
descriptive and inferential data. Moreover, both quantitative and qualitative data
were presented by tables and narrations respectively. The finding established that,
among others, economic factors are among the factors influencing employee
retention. That is, the majority of the employees confirmed that they continue
working at NHIF because they are benefitting economically. They get paid the
salary, get loans and the job is much secured. All of which ensure their survival
economically. Secondly, institutional supports have been positively appreciated since
the employees had shown that through acknowledging the relationship that exists
between employees themselves and their employer. On top of that, employees are
helped by their employer because they have been receiving seminars on retirement
plans every year. This ensures that employees are in good position to make decision
wisely, especially for those who are about to retire from work. Moreover, the
employees added that they are happily working in the place where its physical
environment attracts them from working positively. Therefore, a longitudinal study
was recommended to be conducted focusing on social, psychological, political and
economic factors for employee retention.