Background Information
Findings of the study show that participation on the study had less male than female respondents.
Whereas the females were slightly above half (53%), the male respondents were (47%). (Refer to
figure 4.1).
Figure Gender distribution of respondents
Should the research participants’ sex distribution be representative Boma hotel establishment,
then there is near equal representation of employees of both, which exceeds the minimum
threshold of the one third gender rule as per the Kenyan Constitution.
The results show that slightly less than one third (28.5%) of the respondents are aged 31 to 35
years, (23.3%) are aged 26 to 30 years and (17.8%) are aged 36 to 40 years. The results also
show that beyond 35 years, the higher the age bracket, the lower the number of respondents
involved in the study. The findings also show that that only (3.6%) of the respondents were aged
above 50 years. The respondents were thus of a relatively youthful age and active enough to
positively contribute towards attainment of hotel objectives. (Refer to figure 4.2).
Figure Age distribution of respondents
Findings show that more than one third (42.5%) of the respondents had attained secondary
school level of education, followed by (28.8%) who had attained at least a college certificate,
and
(17.0%) had attained an undergraduate degree. Whereas only 5.2% of the respondents had
attained a postgraduate qualification, 6.6% of the respondents reported that they did not complete
secondary school. The assumption is that high levels of education attained lead to relatively high
capacity to understand the issues and the more objective the responses would be on the various
issues of concern in the research. The respondents in the study with some formal education was
quite high, hence, it is expected they provided objective responses to the study questions. (Refer
to figure 4.3).
Figure Highest level of education attained
Findings reveal that slightly more than three quarters (77.5%) of the hotel employees had worked
in the current organizations for more than 3 years. The assumption is that when works for a long
time in an organization, the person gets a better understanding of the operations and culture of
the organization and what is expected of them. The findings show that majority of the
respondents had a sound understanding of the business of the hotel, values, norms and what was
expected of them; hence they were in a better position to provide objective responses to the
questions posed. (Refer to figure 4.4).
Figure Number of Years worked in Boma hotel
Findings of the study indicate that all departments were presented in the study, with slightly
more than one third (35%) of them representing Food and Beverage department, (33%) of the
respondents represented housekeeping department, while entertainment and reservations
departments being represented by (8%) of the respondents. (Refer to figure 4.5).
Figure Departmental participation in the study
Factors affecting employees’ job satisfaction in Boma hotel
Findings indicate that the highest ranked statement related to working conditions was,
“flexibility of work schedule” (mean score = 4.20); “a working environment that is safe and
comfortable” was second ranked (mean = 4.16) and third ranked was “promotion of employees’
rights” (4.02). The least ranked statement was “the work places should avail ample parking
facilities and security”, which may be attributed to the fact that not all the low cadre staff of the
hotel may be owning vehicles, hence little need for parking space. The findings reveal that while
job satisfaction of staff of Boma hotel is positively influenced by working conditions, they would
like the management of the hotel to ensure that the work schedule is flexible, the working
environment should be safe and comfortable, and the employees’ rights are considered important
and as such, should be promoted. (Refer to table 4.1).
Table: Statements related to working conditions
Statements related to working conditions Responses
(%)
Standard
deviation
Mean Ranking
Agree Strongly
agree
Flexibility of work schedule 51.0 38.8 0.866 4.20 1
Work-life balance 46.9 30.6 1.155 3.86 7
Promotion of employees’ rights 49.0 34.7 1.051 4.02 3
Working hours 49.0 32.7 1.021 4.00 4
A working environment that is safe and
comfortable
49.0 38.8 0.921 4.16 2
Availability of working tools and equipment. 46.9 32.7 1.134 3.92 5
Methods of work that are suitable 42.9 28.6 1.242 3.71 8
The work places should avail ample parking
facilities and security.
38.8 26.5 1.236 3.63 10
The working space should be well-
ventilated, air-conditioned, and have
adequate lighting.
40.8 28.6 1.225 3.71 8
A clean office space with wash rooms and
clean office space.
42.9 32.7 1.148 3.88 6
n = 49
