The Importance of Career Insecurity for Turnover Intentions in the Dutch Military |
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| Authors: | Martijn W van Eetveldt Niels van de Ven Marieke van den Tooren Renzo C Versteeg |
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| Institution: | 1. Trends, Research and Statistics Department, Defense Personnel and Organisation Division, Utrecht, The Netherlandsmw.v.eetveldt@mindef.nl;3. Department of Social Psychology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands;4. Trends, Research and Statistics Department, Defense Personnel and Organisation Division, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | The effects of two dimensions of job insecurity (job loss insecurity and career insecurity) on turnover intentions were tested in a sample from the Dutch armed forces (N = 3,580) after a major downsizing operation was announced. Results suggested that especially perceptions of career insecurity increased turnover intentions. Next to this direct effect, career insecurity was also associated with lowered affective organizational commitment which in turn increased turnover intentions as well. Our results imply that, at least during downsizing operations, a multidimensional conceptualization of job insecurity helps to predict important organizational outcomes in the military. Both perceptions of the risk of losing one’s job and perceptions of possible future career opportunities are important for employee retention. |
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| Keywords: | job insecurity career insecurity organizational commitment turnover intentions downsizing |
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