Work-life balance, job satisfaction and nurses retention: moderating role of work volition

Abstract

Retention of competent employees is becoming a huge challenge for organisations and more so for healthcare institutions. The growing shortage of nursing staff and its potential effect on the healthcare industry is of paramount importance. To retain the existing staff and to attract potential new entrants, healthcare organisations have to adopt strategies that would help them in retention. So, creating a balance between work-life is found as one of the suitable practices that when adopted can reduce work related stresses, increase satisfaction and performance. This study investigated the influence of work-life balance on job satisfaction leading to retention. Further, work volition was tested as a moderator between work-life balance and job satisfaction. The study results indicate significant influence of all work volition as a moderator. The study found that job satisfaction had a partial mediation effect on the relationship of work-life balance and retention.