Role of Flexible Working Hours’ Arrangement on Employee Job Performance and Retention in Manufacturing Industries in Agbara, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the role of flexible working hours’ arrangement on employee job performance and the retention of employees. Flexible working hours’ arrangements are preferable for employees across different cohorts, levels, gender, and are one of the most sought-after benefits. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from 227 permanent and contract employees from five manufacturing industries in Agbara, Ogun State. Data were collected through the use of a flexible working hour questionnaire developed by Hill, Hawkins, Ferris and Weitzman, (2001). An eight-item questionnaire of affective organisation commitment by Meyer and Allen (1991) was used to measure employee retention. Questionnaire designed by Rose (2005) was used to measure employee work stress. The data collected was analyzed based on descriptive analysis of demographic information using table. Linear Regression and Pearson Correlation were used to test the three hypotheses presumed for this study. This study found that flexible work-hour arrangements improved employee performance, increased retention of employees and reduced employee work stress. It is recommended that a proactive strategy be adopted by organisations to improve the alignment between flexible work-hour agreements and other human resource policies such as recruitment, promotion, training, rewards and performance assessment.