Does coworkers’ upward mobility affect employees’ turnover intention? The roles of perceived employability and prior job similarity

• Huang, Weize 
• Wang, Duanxu 
• Pi, Xin 
• Hewlin, Patricia Faison 

Indexed by

SSCI ABDC-A

Abstract

What　would　employees　do　if　their　coworkers　move　upwardly　to　other　organizations?　In　the　era　of　boundaryless　career,　voluntary　turnover　is　more　prevalent　than　ever　before.　Effects　of　coworkers’　voluntary　turnover　on　employees’　turnover　are　attracting　attention　in　human　resource　management.　However,　this　stream　of　research　has　generated　mixed　findings　showing　both　positive　and　negative　effects　on　focal　employees’　turnover,　and　scholars　still　know　little　about　the　specific　mechanism　through　which　the　effects　occur.　This　study　takes　the　first　step　to　reconcile　the　mixed　findings　and　unfold　the　black　box　of　the　effects.　Specifically,　we　argue　that　the　mobility　direction　of　coworkers’　turnover　should　not　be　overlooked　by　previous　research,　and　we　propose　that　coworkers’　upward　mobility　plays　an　indispensable　role　in　predicting　employees’　turnover　intention.　Based　on　social　comparison　theory,　we　hypothesize　that　coworkers’　upward　mobility　positively　relates　to　focal　employees’　turnover　intention　through　focal　employees’　perception　of　employability.　Furthermore,　we　propose　prior　job　similarity　as　a　contingency　that　activates　the　relationship　mentioned　above,　such　that　the　mediation　effect　is　stronger　with　higher　prior　job　similarity.　Our　hypotheses　were　tested　and　fully　supported　by　two-wave　data　from　a　sample　of　369　employees　in　China.　Lastly,　theoretical　and　practical　implications　are　discussed　along　with　possible　limitations　and　directions　for　future　turnover　research.

Keyword

• abilityprior job similarity
• perceived employ
• Social comparison
• turnover intention
• upward mobility

Author Community

[Huang, Weize; Wang, Duanxu] Zhejiang Univ, Sch Management, 388 Yuhangtang St, Hangzhou, Peoples R China

[Pi, Xin] China Europe Int Business Sch, Shanghai, Peoples R China

[Hewlin, Patricia Faison] McGill Univ, Desautels Fac Management, Montreal, PQ, Canada

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