Testing a Moderated Mediation Model of Turnover Intentions With Chinese Employees

Abstract

This study explores the role of organizational career growth on employees’ organizational identification and turnover intentions in the contemporary career era. We compare the impact of organizational career growth and perceived external prestige of organization on employees’ organizational identification and turnover intentions and probe whether perceived alternative job opportunities moderate the relations between perceived external prestige–organizational identification and organizational career growth–organizational identification. Using a sample of 644 Chinese employees, findings indicated perceived external prestige and organizational career growth negatively influenced turnover intentions via organizational identification. Perceived alternative job opportunities buffered the relation between perceived external prestige and organizational identification but not the relation between organizational career growth and organizational identification. Finally, organizational career growth contributed more to organizational identification and turnover intentions than perceived external prestige. Our results suggest future research should consider the role of individual career states in improving employees’ organizational identification and retaining them within an organization.