The Role of Human Resources Internal Rewards and Ethical Leadership Behavior on Employees’ Retention
 
Shojaei Reza¹, Beheshtifar Malikeh^2*

1. MSc in Public Management, Department of Management, Rafsanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rafsanjan, Iran
2. Associate Professor, Department of Management, Rafsanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rafsanjan, Iran
* Corresponding Author: Malikeh Beheshtifar
Address: Velayat Blv, Rafsanjan, Azad University, Rafsanjan
Tel: 00983431313083                                               Email: m.beheshtifar@iaurafsanjan.ac.ir

Abstract:
Background & Objectives: Human resource retention is important for organizations and it is essential to identify the factors that cause staff retention. Ethical leadership behavior via emphasis on norms could provide staff retention and internal rewards, through psychological and social interactions, cause staff retention in workplace. This study examined the role of human resource internal rewards and ethical leadership behavior on staff retention in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed on 169 Headquarters employees in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Data gathering tools included three questionnaires of ethical leadership behavior, human resource internal rewards, and staff retention. Data analysis was done used by structural equation approach and through Amos and SPSS software (version 20).
Results: Ethical leadership behavior was effective in staff retention with path coefficient of 0.290.  Ethical leadership behavior affected human resource internal rewards with path coefficient of 0.356 and human resource internal rewards was effective in staff retention with path coefficient of 0.556. Therefore, the mediator role of human resource internal rewards in the effect of ethical leadership behavior on staff retention was confirmed. 
Conclusion: Due to the importance of employees retention in workplace, paying attention to ethical leadership behavior and internal rewards are highly recommended.
 
Key­words: Ethical leadership behavior, Retention, Human resource internal rewards, Staff
 
­Citation: Shojaei R, Beheshtifar M. The Role of Human Resources Internal Rewards and Ethical Leadership Behavior on Employees’ Retention. Journal of Health Based Research 2019; 5(3): 287-301. [In Persian]