Examining the Moderating Role of Affective Commitment on the Influence of Job Satisfaction on Intent to Stay: Evidence from Healthcare Technical Staff.

Abstract

Background: Healthcare technical workers are responsible for service delivery and are indispensable to the organisation. However, being in a client facing role, they perform under client pressures thereby experiencing stress. The enormity of the healthcare industry ensures the existence of multiple competing organisations. Therefore, attrition is a cause of concern for these industries. Not only do organisations suffer as a consequence of such actions, the end users of such services may also be affected by attrition.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine whether the intent to stay of healthcare workers is influenced by their job satisfaction and affective commitment. It also attempts to understand if affective commitment moderates the influence of job satisfaction on the intent to stay.

Methods: The study has adopted a quantitative survey-based and primary data-based approach. The sample consists of technical healthcare staff such as medical imaging technicians, pathology laboratory technicians and medical equipment technicians. Two stage sampling has been adopted, with convenience sampling being used to approach private sector hospitals, and random sampling being used to select the respondents. Standard and established scales have been used in the study.

Results: The results indicate a significant correlation among job satisfaction, affective commitment and intent to stay. Further, the findings of analysis indicate that job satisfaction significantly influences the intent to stay. Affective commitment also significantly impacts the intent to stay. Moreover, affective commitment moderates the influence of job satisfaction on the intent to stay.

Conclusion: Healthcare organisations need to focus not only on enhancing the job satisfaction of healthcare staff but also pay attention effective commitment. They therefore need to focus not only on enhancing job skills and competencies but also provide a congenial organisation climate conducive to growth and development.