* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: s.shah@psau.edu.sa (S. Faisal)
© 2020 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada
doi: 10.5267/j.msl.2020.5.005
Management Science Letters 10 (2020) 3167–3172
Contents lists available at GrowingScience
Management Science Letters
homepage: www.GrowingScience.com/msl
A study on the level and relationship of job embeddedness and turnover intentions among Saudi Arabian
working-class
Shaha Faisal
a*
, Mohammad Naushad
a
and Mohammad Rishad Faridi
a
a
Assistant Professor, College of Business Administration, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia
C H R O N I C L E A B S T R A C T
Article history:
Received: March 3, 2020
Received in revised format:
March 25 2020
Accepted: May 5, 2020
Available online:
May 5, 2020
In this competitive environment for the survival of the organization, it is essential to retain compe-
tent workforce, and keep them well aligned with organizational objectives. Turnover of employees
creates panic situation and unnecessary burden of high recruitment cost. The present study identi-
fies the relationship between job embeddedness and turnover intention. The survey of 119 employ-
ees was conducted in Saudi Arabia. The study found no significant relationship between job em-
beddedness and turnover intention. Negative correlation was found between turnover intention with
respect to age and experience of employees. It clearly states that as the employees gain experience,
their turnover intent decreases. Age is also an important factor of turnover intention. It was found
that older employees showed less turnover intent in comparison to younger employees. The results
will provide insights to organization for making effective strategies to keep employees embedded
with their jobs and help in reducing turnover intent and actual turnover.
© 2020 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada
Keywords:
Turnover intention
Job embeddedness
Turnover
Behavioral issues
Saudi Arabia
1. Introduction
Modern industry requires effective workforce which are well aligned with the organizational objectives to sustain in this
competitive environment. Behavioral issues of employees need to be given prime importance in the current competitive busi-
ness environment. The present study examines the impact of job embeddedness (JE), henceforth JE on turnover intention,
henceforth turnover intention (TI) of employees. In this study, the researchers attempt to identify the factors which keep
employees embedded with job, and its relationship with turnover intention among Saudi Arabian workforce. If an organization
focuses on the behavioral aspect of employees, especially the positive aspects, it could help in decreasing turnover and save
the costs associated with it. Once the organization is aware which employees are going to stay for longer period of time or
leave, then it can make effective strategies for its sustainability and progress (Holtom & O'Neill, 2004; Reitz & Anderson,
2011). JE is a construct that identifies the employee’s association with organization. TI identifies the employees’ intention to
quit and functions as an early warning system. Based on the intend of the employees, the organization can easily determine
who are going to leave the organization. This could help in devising effective strategies to retain high performers.
1.1 Literature Review
Job Embeddedness
JE is a construct that directly affect the employee decision to stay with their respective organizations. Mitchell et al. (2001)
introduced the term “Job embeddedness” and identified different factors which are usually responsible for the continuance of
employment with a particular organization. They could be classified under on-the-job factors and off-the-job factors. Employ-
ees often have bonding with the co-workers, absolute match of skills with the job demands and organization related commu-
nity services. These factors are often found to be related with on-the-job factors that could ensure JE. Some off- the-job