Influence of Short-Term Employment Contracts on Performance of Health Care Workers at Nakuru County Level 4 and 5 Public Hospitals

Purpose: The study investigated the impact of short-term employment contracts on the performance of health workers at Nakuru County public hospitals, focusing on 490 contracted workers from PGH Nakuru and Naivasha Referral Hospital. Methodology: Using stratified random sampling and a sample size of 220 respondents, data was collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS version 25 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: The analysis revealed that employment continuity had a minimal and statistically insignificant effect on performance (p=.923), whereas benefits award significantly improved performance (p=.025). Increased supervision had the most substantial impact, significantly enhancing performance (p=.000). Employment relations also positively influenced performance but was statistically insignificant (p=.060). The results suggest that supervision is the most critical factor affecting the performance of short-term contract workers, followed by benefits award. In contrast, employment continuity and employment relations were less influential. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study recommends that hospitals should invest in mentorship programs to enhance employment continuity and job satisfaction, thereby improving performance. These programs would support personal and career development, contributing to better overall performance for contracted health workers.