Attachment and attractiveness towards organizations: reinforcing the intention to stay amidst the “great resignation”

Purpose The motivation for this study is to understand the stressful situations leading to great resignation and evaluate the cognitions of psychological attachment (PA) and organizational attractiveness (OA) to mitigate this crisis, using the attachment theory as the theoretical basis.Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted on individuals employed in Indian organizations (Nifty 50) to identify the most impactful cognitions underlying the dynamics between person–job fit (P-J fit) and the intention to stay (ITS).Findings This study highlighted that a serial mediation relationship between PA (specifically “internalization”) and OA is influenced by the P-J “needs–supplies” fit, particularly during extraordinarily stressful times. Managers must re-emphasize PA and OA as core organizational resources that must be prioritized, maintained and refined to reinforce employees' intent to stay in their organizations.Originality/value No research has studied P-J fit, PA, OA, underpinned by the attachment theory to reinforce the ITS given the context of the great resignation triggered by the pandemic's extraordinarily stressful situation.