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FACTORS AFFECTING EMPLOYEE JOB SATISFACTION IN THE
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN KENYA
Background of the Study
Newstrom and Keith (2011) defines employees’ job satisfaction as “a set of unfavorable and
favorable emotions and feelings which employees view with their work”. According to Parvin
and Kabir (2011), “in the competitive environment of today, work is a key aspect in the lives of
people, and since most of the time is spent in the work place, their satisfaction with the jobs they
undertake is of essence”. Some of the related studies undertaken are briefly discussed below.
A study undertaken by Rast and Tourani (2012) analyzed the role played by gender differences
and employees’ job satisfaction in three selected airlines in Iran, focusing on opportunities for
promotion, nature of work, supervision, co-worker relations and present pay. Findings of the
research show that all employees, both of male and female gender. Jafri (2012) examined that
influence employees’ job satisfaction at Hotel Taiping Perdana in Malaysia. The study focused
on opportunities for promotion, supervision, work conditions and work itself, with the findings
revealing a significant positive relationship between work conditions, opportunities for
promotion, supervision, pay and employees’ job satisfaction.
Zainol, Hussin and Othman (2016) examined the influence of internal communication,
leadership, rewards, training and development on employees’ engagement in the Malaysian hotel
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sector. The results show that healthy employee engagement programs are positively related to
employees’ innovation, morale, commitment and motivation, and hence the overall improved
organizational profitability and performance, and is useful in building their employees’
engagement. Anin, Ofori and Okyere (2015), focusing on Ghana’s Ashanti Region, examined the
relationship between factors that affect employees’ job satisfaction in construction supply chain.
The results reveal that factors that do not have any relationship with wages such as job security,
supervision, work environment, the tasks themselves, and recognition had more significant
influence on employees’ job satisfaction than the wages the employees earned in the construction
industry.
Oduro-Owusu (2010) carried out a study focusing on the relationship between the factors
