An empirical study of workplace attachment in tourism scenic areas: the positive effect of workplace fun on voluntary retention

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate how to build emotional ties between employees and their workplace to enhance their attachment behavior – voluntary retention. Based on the case of the Yashan scenic area, Jiangxi Province, China, we collected original data through in-depth interviews, observations and surveys, combined with place attachment and stimulus-response theory, using grounded theory to construct the theoretical model. Then, we collected data in tourism scenic areas through a questionnaire survey, using SPSS, AMOS and M-plus statistical analysis software to test the hypothesis in the theoretical model. The results show that managers in tourism scenic areas provide work-related fun activities for employees frequently in the workplace, which can strengthen employees’ emotional ties to their workplace and organization, then influence their work attitude and behaviours. The findings enrich the study of workplace attachment and workplace fun, as well as having important practical significance for the human resource management of tourism scenic areas, which can alleviate the problem of high turnover rate or insufficient personnel in tourism scenic areas in China.