Factors influencing implementation of workplace counseling services: a case of University of Nairobi

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the factors affecting the implementation of workplace counselling at the University of Nairobi. The study was guided by four specific objectives namely: to identify staff perception of workplace counselling at the University of Nairobi; to identify benefits of workplace counselling among staff at the University of Nairobi; to determine the rationale for workplace counselling at the University of Nairobi and to establish barriers to execution of workplace counselling at the University of Nairobi.

The study adopted the descriptive research design using the mixed method approach. This involved the use of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis approaches. The study used the questionnaires to gather information from academic staff and administrative staff and interview guides for the key informants from the health services and human resource departments. The researcher was able to administer and collect 84 complete questionnaires for the analysis and conduct two key informant interviews. The study concludes that there was a positive attitude towards workplace counseling among staff at the University of Nairobi. That benefits of workplace counseling were the creation of a good environment among staff by improving workplace relationships and that the barriers towards workplace counseling was luck of sensitization on the benefits of workplace counseling, fear and stigma towards workplace counseling and lack of professional counsellors. Work-related issues facing staff at the University of Nairobi were inadequate allocation of resources, poor recruitment policies and career progression procedures and policies. That education and training on the benefits of workplace counselling among university of Nairobi staff should entail stress coping strategies and also sensitization of counseling in order to reduce fear and stigma towards workplace counseling. The Human Resource Department should conduct a needs assessment in all departments, colleges and schools of the University of Nairobi in order to identify staff issues and workplace problems which would be addressed by the workplace counselling policy.