Can effective organizational rules keep employees from leaving? a study of green tape and turnover intention

Employee turnover intention is a serious concern for public organizations. In this study, we investigate if the presence of effective organizational rules, or green tape, can help keep employees from leaving the organization. Using cross-sectional survey and administrative data collected from three local government organizations, we find that effective organizational rules, defined by valid means-ends relationships, consistent application, optimal control, and understood purposes, are all associated with lower turnover intention. While our survey research design does not allow us to test causality, these findings suggest important theoretical and practical implications for understanding effective organizational rules and turnover intention.