Abstract
Orientation: Retaining staff with special endeavours within higher education institutions has
become a top priority and crucial for any organisational productivity and competiveness.
Attracting and retaining talent has remained a critical and complex issue for human capital
management in organisations.
Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of total rewards on
organisational commitment measured by Total Rewards Scale and Organisational Commitment
Questionnaire.
Motivation for the study: There is paucity in research on the impact of total rewards on
organisational commitment. Commitment of academic staff is significant as higher education
institutions are influential in the development of a country.
Research design, approach and method: This study employed the quantitative research
method using a survey design. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect survey
data. A sample of 279 academic staff, which was the total population of participants, was
selected for this study.
Main findings: Results show a positive and significant correlation between elements of total
rewards (performance management, 0.387; recognition, 0.335; talent development and career
opportunities, 0.328; compensation, 0.231; benefits, 0.213; work–life balance, 0.024) and
organisational commitment. A variance of 52.3% of total rewards explained organisational
commitment. Performance management, compensation, benefits, recognition, talent
development and career opportunities significantly predicted organisational commitment.
However, work–life balance indicated a negative effect on organisational commitment.
Practical managerial implications: Findings of the study has implications to managers because
they have to encourage and promote total rewards in order to enforce talent retention within
higher education institutions for the benefit of both institutions and employees.
Contribution: The results are important to managers with great interest in talent retention and
can be used as guideline to develop rewards strategy.