A Path Analysis of Variables Influencing Labour Turnover

Abstract

A brief questionnaire was devised to study the determinants of length of service for a sample of 57 former telephone advertisement sales girls. Path analysis was used to explore the hypothesized complex pattern of interrelationships among the variables. It was found that optimal challenge and social integration had direct effects on length of service. Job evaluation, pressure and higher order needs affected length of service indirectly through these two variables. There was a tendency for pressure to lead to negative feelings about management and supervision. These negative feelings heightened perceived optimal challenge which, in turn, had a positive effect on staying in the job. Most of the variables were shown to discriminate between leavers and current employees. It is suggested that these findings and the method used to uncover them provide the basis for a refinement of theories of labour turnover. In general the findings suggest that the properties associated with autonomous work groups increase length of service.

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