Implication of employee engagement and management performance on millennials retention: a study of SMEs in UK.

This research explores the dominant view of effective employee engagement, motivation, and management performance on the retention of millennials. Several previous research indicates that there has been a decline in the motivation and satisfaction of millennial employees, consequently impacting their commitment, quality of performance and retention within the organisation. Millennials and Small to Medium Enterprises (SME’s) are growing rapidly and causing dramatic change worldwide. Especially considering the current global pandemic circumstance, where SMEs, specifically e-retailers, are becoming the major agent of economic development and employability in the UK economy. Many researchers have repeatedly studied both; however, little research has been made considering the global impact of COVID-19. This research explores the issues SME’s face in retaining millennial generation as well as aims to understand the current employee engagement and management performance strategies of SMEs in an effort to tackle dramatic pandemic crisis.Additionally, the research provides guidelines on how SME’s can improve their relationship with millennials by establishing effective employee engagement and management performance. Every enterprise needs to attract and retain millennials as they are taking an active part in organisational activities. Therefore, this thesis aims to fill the gap by exploring current strategies which SMEs are implementing on improving the commitment level of millennials within the organisation after the global pandemic. An exploratory qualitative method research design is used to explore the relationship and experience from the viewpoint of both managers and employees. Data for the study was collected through semi-structured interviews, where ten employees and four managers were selected from SMEs within the e-retail sector of Birmingham (United Kingdom). The phenomenological research method was employed in the study, which allowed researchers to explore the deeper experience of each individual through their current work experience and by identifying the emerging themes and pattern while conducting the interviews. Data collected was textually analysed using the thematic network method and QSR thematic analysis approach.The findings of this study provide deep insight into the current working experience of employees and managers in e-retail. Findings revealed the need for technologicaladvancement as a major factor, alongside implementing a clear career path and career development culture within the organisation. To gain more commitment, it is suggested that managers should pay attention to their current hardware and software, enhance their training, and career development opportunities and offer a flexible working environment especially considering the pandemic faced globally. Additionally, it was suggested to place in effective leadership to build friendly work culture instilling effective communication throughout the organisation. Further, the research recommends further quantitative research and the need to explore COVID-19 impact on Generation Y and Generation Z aspect of this phenomena.