INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,
MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)
ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XV, Issue V, May 2026
Research has also demonstrated that ethical leadership contributes to a positive ethical climate, which
subsequently improves employee retention.
Ethical leaders foster open communication, accountability, and justice, thereby creating supportive work
conditions (Isiramen, 2021).
Employees working under ethical leadership often experience greater job satisfaction and emotional attachment
to the organization. Furthermore, ethical workplaces encourage employee participation and psychological safety,
which positively affect employees’ intention to stay. (Gajda & Pyszka, 2023)
There is a relationship between ethical work environment and employee wellbeing, with the anti-sexual
harassment cell acting as a mediating factor in college campuses. The findings reveal a positive association
among ethical work environment, anti-sexual harassment cell effectiveness, and employee wellbeing
(Jagadeesh.et.al,2025)
Conversely, unethical organizational practices such as favoritism, discrimination, exploitation, and lack of
transparency can increase turnover intentions.
Employees who perceive unethical behavior within the organization may experience frustration, mistrust, and
reduced commitment, ultimately leading to higher attrition rates. Therefore, organizations aiming to improve
retention should focus on creating and sustaining ethical workplace environments.
Based on the above discussion, the study proposes the following hypothesis:
H1: An ethical work environment has a significant positive effect on employee retention.
HR Practices and Employee Retention
Human Resource practices represent the policies and strategies organizations use to manage employees
effectively. HR practices typically include recruitment and selection, compensation management, performance
appraisal, employee participation, training and development, career growth opportunities, and work-life balance
initiatives. (Sonar & Pandey, 2023)
Strategic HR practices are widely recognized as essential determinants of employee retention. Effective HR
systems improve employee satisfaction by ensuring fair compensation, recognition, skill development, and
career advancement opportunities. (Lodhi &Ahmad, 2025) Employees are more likely to remain in organizations
where they perceive organizational support and professional growth opportunities.
Training and development programs enhance employees’ competencies and career prospects, increasing their
organizational commitment. Similarly, fair performance appraisal systems and transparent reward mechanisms
foster trust and motivation among employees. (Pratiwi et al., 2024) Compensation and benefits also play an
important role in reducing employee turnover by addressing employees’ financial and social needs.
Studies have further shown that participative HR practices strengthen employee engagement and psychological
attachment to the organization. When employees are involved in organizational decision-making processes, they
develop a stronger sense of belonging and loyalty. Flexible work arrangements and supportive workplace
policies also contribute positively to retention outcomes. (Ogu, 2024)
In contrast, inadequate HR practices such as unfair evaluations, lack of recognition, limited career opportunities,
and poor communication can negatively affect employee morale and increase turnover intentions. Therefore,
organizations must implement employee-centered HR strategies to retain talented employees effectively.
Accordingly, the following hypothesis is proposed:
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