Relationship Between Diversity Management Practices and Employee Commitment in the Commercial Banks in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Over the years, it has been demonstrated that workplace diversity is important to organizations. However, research on workplace diversity practices has been relatively narrow in scope and frequently failed to link diversity management practices to employee commitment. This study sought to establish the relationship between diversity management practices and employee commitment in the banking sector in Kenya. The study was based on a descriptive survey design. The target population consisted of employees of commercial banks in Nairobi County. The study sample was selected through stratified random sampling techniques. A sample of 168 respondents was used in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and the results presented using tables and figures. Descriptive statistics comprising frequency distributions, means, standard deviations and percentages were used to show the profile of the respondents and the general trend in the data. Perason’s correlation analysis was used to establish the strength and significance of the relationship between diversity management practices and three forms of employee commitment. The study concluded that diversity management practices had significant influence on employee commitment in commercial banking sector. This resulted from the fact that the interaction among employees from diverse backgrounds was taking place in the banks; there was no discrimination in hiring of employees and employees were tolerant of other employees’ perspectives. The study established a significant positive relationship between diversity management practices and affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment. It is recommended that diversity management practices be enhanced in commercial banks in Kenya since work place diversity can lead to increased employee commitment. The findings of the study are expected to provide a source of information for policy makers, researchers and finance professionals to understand link between diversity management practices and employee commitment in commercial banking sector in Kenya.