Perceived Organizational Support and Intention to Stay: The Mediating Effect of Employee Engagement

The present study intends to investigate the influence of perceived organizational support (POS) on employee intention to stay (ITS) in an organization. Further, study examines the mediating role of employee engagement (EE) on the relationship between perceived organizational support (POS) and employee intention to stay (ITS). Data has been collected from 323 employees working in three major private telecom companies, namely, Airtel Limited, Vodafone–Idea Limited and Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited operating in J&K (UT). Data has been scrutinized using structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings of the study indicates that POS has a significant positive influence on ITS and EE, partially mediates the relationship between POS and ITS. The study has significant implications for managers as well as practitioners. First, it contributes to social exchange theory by understanding employees’ perception about organizational support on their intention to stay via engagement. Second, it encourages managers to cultivate an environment of support in order to engage the employees because only the engaged employees show intense desire to stay with their organization. It is the first study that examines the indirect impact of POS on ITS via EE.