Title: Losing good citizens: the enabling effect of organisational citizenship on the job search-employee turnover relationship

Authors: Tyler C. Burch

Addresses: College of Business, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho 83209-8020, USA

Abstract: The present study extends research and theory on the contingencies that influence turnover from an organisation. Applying perspectives from impression management and social exchange, the study investigates the impact of employee organisational citizenship behaviour on the relationship between job seeking and voluntary turnover. Data was gathered on employees in a US office of a global financial institution. Empirical results indicated that, as individuals high in organisational citizenship behaviour engaged in job seeking, they were more likely to voluntarily turnover from the organisation. The findings suggest that 'good' organisational citizens enjoy more mobility as a result of job seeking when compared to those less inclined to citizenship behaviours, independent of their actual in-role performance or level of job satisfaction. This study has implications for management's understanding of how organisational citizenship behaviours contribute to the turnover of employees.

Keywords: voluntary turnover; job search behaviour; JSB; organisational citizenship behaviour; OCB; turnover contingencies; impression management; social exchange; job satisfaction; employee discretionary performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2018.093443

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2018 Vol.18 No.3/4, pp.217 - 236

Received: 15 Jun 2016
Accepted: 31 Jan 2017
Published online: 26 Jul 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article