Mission Congruence: To Agree or Not to Agree, and Its Implications for Public Employee Turnover

Abstract

Previous studies within and outside of the field of public administration consistently find positive organizational outcomes when there is high compatibility or fit between employees and organizations—a concept now widely known as person–organization fit. Previous public administration scholars have established the link between employees’ person–organization fit perceptions and employee turnover intention. However, no previous study has examined whether there is a link with actual turnover. This study addresses this gap in the literature on public sector employee fit by examining the relationship between one particular type of fit—mission congruence—and public employee turnover. Using nationally representative data on public school teachers, we find that teachers in U.S. schools who perceive themselves to be compatible with their organizations’ central mission are at least 11% more likely to remain at their current school. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for research and practice.