Changing Jobs Like Changing Clothes: Job Hopping Among ZimbabweanUniversity Lecturers

Abstract

Job hopping has become prevalent amongst Zimbabwean university lecturers. The study seeks to identify a solution to job hopping amongst academics. The investigation was aimed at understanding causes, impact and solutions to job hopping of lecturers in the Zimbabwean universities. The investigation employs qualitative methodologies and uses data saturation to determine sample size. Poor remuneration, lack of resources, work pressure, red tape and lack of career growth were found to be causes of job hopping amongst lecturers in Zimbabwean universities. Brain drain, poor quality of graduates, increased workload, recruitment and administration costs and unfilled posts were found to be negative impacts of job hopping of lecturers in the Zimbabwean universities. Competitive remuneration, mentoring, decreasing workload, flexible work arrangements, provision of resources, career growth and adoption of
organic structures were found to be solutions to job hopping amongst lecturers in Zimbabwean universities.