Transformational leadership, employee turnover intention, and actual voluntary turnover in public organizations

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis research seeks to make contributions to the organization-level analysis of voluntary turnover in public organizations. Structural equation modelling is used to explore how transformational leadership makes a difference on employees’ actual quitting behaviour. Moreover, the research provides empirical evidence on the relationship between turnover intention and actual turnover. The findings suggested that transformational leadership not only directly prevents employees from forming intentions to leave but also indirectly does so by cultivating a collaborative culture. Additionally, we found that higher turnover intention leads to higher actual turnover rate, so turnover intention may be a valid proxy of actual turnover behaviour.