SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? DECIDING FACTORS OF ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL TO STAY OR LEAVE AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION DURING A PANDEMIC: BASIS FOR AN IMPROVED EMPLOYEE RETENTION POST-PANDEMIC PROGRAM

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reshaped the workplace, impacting employee perceptions of their employers based on crisis response. The widespread adoption of remote work has expanded job opportunities, leading to a noticeable trend of job hopping, particularly in the Filipino workforce. This phenomenon poses potential challenges for businesses, necessitating a reevaluation of company policies and plans to effectively address changing needs and conditions related to employee retention. More so, it focuses on understanding the decisions of administrative employees within academic institutions to either stay or leave, considering the potential influence of their experiences with remote work during the pandemic. Employing a qualitative research approach with a multiple case study design, data were gathered through structured and semi-structured interviews with randomly selected administrative employees categorized into rank and file, supervisory, and managerial roles. Reflective thematic analysis, utilizing both inductive and latent approaches, was applied to identify codes and major themes. Factors influencing the decision to stay include a love for work, proximity to home, employee benefits (such as school discounts), job stability, positive relationships, a sense of freedom, and gratitude. Conversely, factors influencing the decision to leave encompass salary concerns, manager-employee relationships, work modality, company policies and their implementation, communication processes, leadership and collaboration, motivation, position-specific training, wellness initiatives, and heavy workload. In light of these findings, companies are urged to review and revise their policies and plans to better align with evolving employee needs, thereby fostering a supportive environment for staff retention during these transformative times.

Keywords: human resource, multiple case study, Philippines, retention, thematic analysis