Enhancing Staff Retention: Analyzing Factors and Strategies within the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit

Employee retention has become a significant challenge for educational organizations, particularly Intermediate Units that provide specialized services across multiple school districts. This mixed-methods action research study examined the factors influencing Professional and Support Staff retention within the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit (CLIU), with emphasis on employees beyond their first three years of service. The study explored the impact of organizational climate, leadership, professional development, workload, and support systems on employee satisfaction and retention. Quantitative data was collected through surveys of current and former employees, while qualitative data was obtained through interviews and focus groups. Findings showed that employees remain committed to serving students and meaningful work, supportive supervisors, positive coworker relationships, and opportunities to make a difference. However, participants identified workload demands, burnout, staffing shortages, communication concerns, inadequate onboarding, compensation issues, and inconsistent leadership responsiveness as key barriers to retention. The results demonstrated that organizational climate and leadership practices strongly influence employee satisfaction and long-term commitment. Participants recommended strengthening onboarding and mentoring programs, expanding professional development, improving communication, increasing employee recognition, and enhancing wellness supports. The study concludes that staff retention is an organizational improvement opportunity that extends beyond recruitment and compensation. By implementing leadership practices and supportive workplace systems, the CLIU can improve employee satisfaction, reduce turnover, preserve institutional knowledge, strengthen organizational culture, and enhance services.