Turnover intentions of police officers: Influence of burnout, supervisor support, and job satisfaction

Abstract

Abstract Public service employees are often those in front-line positions, and face stress due to their boundary spanning job requirements. During the Covid 19 pandemic, additional strain was felt by these front-line workers as they were required to continue close contact with others. For police officers, stress may lead to psychological effects such as burnout, lower levels of job satisfaction, and higher levels of turnover intentions. Additionally, some occupational groups such as policing are at a higher risk of developing mental health problems. This is becoming increasingly important for many cities and their police department budgets, as increasing labor costs for staffing and turnover has become a major concern. This study seeks to better understand how these specific factors influence turnover intentions for police officers in a mid-size suburban US police department, how organizations can help address mental health, and make practical suggestions on how to impact these staffing decisions.