A STUDY ON EMPLOYEE RETENTION STRATEGIES AND FACTORS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY

Abstract

Employee retention has emerged as a critical area of focus within the food and beverage (F&B) industry, which is widely recognized for its high turnover rates, operational pressures, and labour-intensive nature. This study investigates the core factors influencing employee retention and examines the effectiveness of strategies implemented by organizations to mitigate attrition in this dynamic sector. Drawing data from a diverse sample of 547 employees working in dairy companies. the research adopts a quantitative survey-based approach to assess employee perceptions related to compensation, career development, leadership style, organizational culture, recognition, and work-life balance.

The study employs descriptive statistics, correlation to identify the strength and direction of relationships between key retention factors and employees' intent to stay. Results indicate that career advancement opportunities, supportive leadership, and positive organizational culture are the most influential drivers of retention. Conversely, Theanalysis reveals that while personal and organizational factors such as communication, overwork, and fairness contribute meaningfully to employee turnover in the dairy sector, none of these are statistically more influential than others.Furthermore, the analysis reveals that integrated HR strategies that align employee needs with organizational goals significantly improve workforce stability.

This research offers actionable insights for HR practitioners and policy makers within the F&B sector, emphasizing the need for targeted retention frameworks that address both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors. The findings also contribute to the existing body of knowledge on human resource management by providing an industry-specific perspective on employee retention strategies. By addressing the unique challenges of the F&B industry, the study paves the way for sustainable talent management practices and improved organizational performance.