Protean career orientation to turnover intentions: moderating roles of current organizational career growth and future organizational career growth prospect

Purpose

Targeting at the inconsistent relationship between protean career orientation and turnover intentions, this study aims to uncover when and why such inconsistency occurs. It emphasized the mediating role of organizational identification and moderating effects of current organizational career growth and future organizational career growth prospect.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a three-wave time-lagged study over seven months, with a sample of 1,012 participants from various occupations.

Findings

The relationship of protean career orientation to turnover intentions via organizational identification was negative when current organizational career growth was high, and it was positive when current growth was low. Future organizational career growth prospect weakened organizational identification–turnover intentions relationship. Those two moderators jointly influenced the indirect relationship. For employees low in both states, the positive indirect relationship was the most significant.

Originality/value

By integrating social identity theory and social cognitive theory, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of protean career orientation–turnover intentions relationship. It also enriches studies on protean career orientation and organizational identification–turnover intentions relationship.