Factors Driving Employeesʼ Intention to Stay

Abstract. This study investigates factors influencing employeesʼ intention to stay. Therefore, we developed and analyzed a retention model relating to the voluntary turnover model ( Allen et al., 2010 ). We assume that the decision processes for retention and turnover might be similar. Differences can be found in the initiating factors (the drivers for leaving and staying). We combine empirically evident retention drivers, which are weighted regarding their implementation in the organization, with process variables from the turnover model. The model is tested with a sample of 881 German employees using structural equation modeling. Results show a significant indirect effect of the retention drivers on the intention to stay. The influence is mediated by the key attitudes job satisfaction and affective commitment. A psychological contract breach influences the relationship between job satisfaction and intention to stay, but not between affective commitment and intention to stay. We integrated research from Human Resource Management (HRM) into the framework of voluntary turnover.