Employee Age and Job Performance: A Case of Academic Staff in Public Universities in Kenya

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the association between employee age and job performance. The need for it was informed by the ongoing trends and discussions taking place in many countries about raising the retirement age of their employees. The target population was the 14,013 members of academic staff in public universities in Kenya from which a stratified random sample of 398 was picked using the Taro Yamane formula for finite populations. The Generativity theory was used to explain the relationship between employee age and job performance. A realist positivist research philosophy and a descriptive cross-sectional survey research design were adopted. Primary data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A linear regression analysis was conducted to establish the association between the study variables. All ethical aspects of scientific research were given due consideration. This study established that employee age had a statistically significant positive linear association with job performance. It therefore recommends that, the academic staff tenure be considered for extension to such an age when it can be scientifically and empirically determined that employees cannot effectively deliver on their jobs. This implies that the government, universities and other stakeholders would have to come up with policies, structures and finances for the lengthened tenure. Future research should consider investigating the age at which job performance is at its peak for purposes of enhancing employee motivation. Additionally, future research should seek to establish the age at which there is a decline in job performance which would then warrant retirement as well as a study on factors that mediate and/or moderate employee age- job performance relationship.