An Assessment of the Effects of Expatriates Engagement on Local Employees Motivation: A Case of Oxfam Gb-Kenya

Abstract

Employee motivation is of great significance in enhancing organizational performance through its effects on profitability and a vital factor in enhancing customer satisfaction since the employees are more overwhelmed and efficient in executing their duties. The purpose of the research study was to assess the effects of expatriate engagement on local employees’ motivation a case of Oxfam GB-Kenya. The study adopted descriptive research design. The target population was 45 managers of Oxfam GB-Kenya operating in Nairobi County. The study found out that the factors that prompt multinational organizations to engage the services of expatriates are inadequacy of certain skills locally, maintain international organization identity and to centralize operations for economies of scale. The strategies used by the NGO’s in managing the expatriate effect were calculated reduction of medical cover allowance, housing allowance, automobile allowance, travel allowance and hardship allowance with passage of time. The effects of expatriate engagement on local employee’s motivation were special treatment of expatriates in remunerations, limited career growth in the organization. The study concluded that the benefits of expatriates to the organization included; improvement of the quality of service through transfer of global skills and assisted the organization in cutting operational costs through enlightening the staff of ways to increasing efficiency in their operation. The study recommends that NGO’s management should educate its staff of the importance of use of expatriates to transfer knowledge and skills to mitigate against their negative perception of these efforts and minimize staff resistance and ensure they maximally gain from the expatriates.