Quality of work environment and quitting intention: A dilemma

Markey, Ray; Revenswood, Katherine; Webber, Don J.

Authors

Ray Markey

Katherine Revenswood

Don J. Webber

Abstract

A substantial body of research has linked job satisfaction with employees’ quitting intentions. That research predominantly analyses individual-level determinants rather than organisational-level or work environment antecedents of quitting. This study investigates the concept of the quality of the work environment (QWE) in relation to employees’ quitting intentions and argues that QWE will influence a manager’s ability to shape their employees’ quitting intentions. We illustrate this proposition using a small survey of employees across four different industries in New Zealand. The results support the extant literature findings only if employees perceive their QWE is good; if an employee perceives their QWE is poor then extant policy implications could be toothless. This suggests QWE is an important focus of policy to shape quitting intentions.

Citation

Markey, R., Revenswood, K., & Webber, D. J. (2015). Quality of work environment and quitting intention: A dilemma

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Jan 1, 2015
Journal	New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	40
Issue	1
Pages	35-52
Keywords	work environment, quitting work
Publisher URL	http://www.nzjournal.org/latest.htm