Effects of motivation packages employee performance: a case study of Barclays bank of Kenya Queensway branch, Nairobi

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study sought to investigate employee motivation and its impact on organizational performance on the banking industry looking at the case of Barclays Bank of Kenya. The research specifically sought to determine the motivational needs of employees of Barclays Bank of Kenya; determine the strategies used by the bank to motivate its employees; assess employees’ perception of the motivation strategies at the bank; and the effects of motivation on employee performance at Barclays Bank of Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive case study design and targeted fifty employees of Barclays Bank, Queensway House branch. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires, which had both openand close-ended questions. The questionnaire was administered through drop and pick method to avoid interruptions of the employee’s busy schedule. The collected data was coded and analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Descriptive and correlation analysis methods were used in interpreting the data obtained. The study therefore conclude that; first employee housing scheme, and enhanced salaries, employee car loan, promotions, recognitions and fringe benefits (allowances) are used to motivate employees at Barclays Bank. Medical cover benefits are rarely used to motivate staff for enhanced performance. Secondly, the perception of staff vary across gender and education levels, overall there was mixed perception of staff on motivational packages ranging from very good to excellent by 14% while another substantial group 31% rated the motivational package as poor to very poor. Meaning that the motivational package at Barclays needs improvement for it to be effective in sustaining staff motivation and employee performance within the bank. Lastly, the motivational packages offered by the bank influenced inner satisfaction, respect among colleagues and early reporting to work. Surprisingly, the influence of the motivational packages on employee delight to customers, staying on the job and loyalty to bank was below average. Despite the mixed responses, themotivational packages were important in reinforcing employee performance. Therefore the study concluded that motivational packages are used by the bank, however, the packages need improvement to reinforce employee performance. Among the motivational strategies employed by the bank, enhanced salary was the most significant which is in line with Maslow’s physiological need which states that people are motivated if they are able to meet their physiological needs and in this case such needs are met through payment of salaries. The researcher recommended that the bank needs to make the employees aware of the motivational packages or make the packages satisfactory. The study also recommended the need to improve on the promotion policies and prioritize on enhanced salaries since this was the most significant motivational reward observed.