Free Agency Strategy: The New Human Resource Paradigm In the Kenyan Labour Market

Abstract

The free agency strategy is a trend in the contemporary labour markets that has emerged to change the market dynamics and increase the autonomy of the employee in making choices, and this is more so in the Kenyan market. The strategy is more effective and efficient relative to traditional employment that has numerous flaws. With the advent of technological advances in the labour market, workers have been rendered capable of connecting and working together from anywhere. This form of flexibility is synonymous with the Free Agency Strategy (FSA), likely to dominate the Kenyan labour market in the near future. With adoption of this strategy, the business trend is shifting towards flexibility with project-based workforces picking a considerable pace. There are numerous benefits of adopting this strategy for employers and employees. Companies in Kenya are realising that through the adoption of the free agency strategy, it is extremely easy to scale up and down major operations. The new Kenyan workers who possess knowledge and skills are finding it easy to access work.

Key Words: Free Agency Strategy, Entrepreneurial Empowerment, Leverage, Economic Downturn, Generation X, Generation Y, Silent Generation, Baby Boomers.