The ramification of COVID-19: How work satisfaction mediates the perceived work stress with turnover intention and gender differences among knowledge workers of developing country

Abstract

Purpose. In organizations, employee’s work stress is seen as the main problem behind dissatisfaction which ultimately leads towards turnover intention. This research is specific to knowledge workers of private schools registered in the Federal Capital Territory of Pakistan during COVID-19 and empirically examined the influence of perceived work stress on turnover intention and work satisfaction, including investigating the mediation effect of work satisfaction on the association of perceived work stress with turnover intention. Finally, the conditional direct and indirect effect of males and females is also measured. Design. Data were gathered from private school’s teachers of the Federal Capital Territory of Pakistan in the form of a survey and the final sample of 269 teachers was used to test the hypotheses through structural equational modeling. Findings. Perceived work stress positively influenced the turnover intention of knowledge workers but work satisfaction reduces the greater impact of stress on turnover intention and seems to be partially mediated the association of perceived work stress and turnover intention. Finally, gender differences exposed that work satisfaction decreases the greater effect of stress on turnover intention among females strongly than males although the direct effect was already weaker among male teachers than females. Practical Implications. This research will assist decision-makers to better understand the consequences of perceived work stress and work satisfaction. Moreover, management can formulate strategies for the retention of employees to minimize the turnover of knowledge workers that are contributing to the welfare of society. Organizations need to emphasize the work satisfaction of employees on priority in any circumstances to utilize their full efforts for better performance as the turnover intention is the main cause of perceived work stress. Work satisfaction minimizes the influence of perceived work stress on turnover intention among knowledge workers especially in the current scenario where almost every organization is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and official work has been transmitted from physical to online medium which is generating uncertainties globally. Value of results. This research paper thrusts the knowledge about the antecedents of individual’s work satisfaction, stress and intention to quit in the field of education.