A turnover model for the Mexican maquiladoras

Existing turnover models have been developed and tested almost exclusively in Anglo cultures. Thus, there is reason to question whether these models apply to workers elsewhere. We addressed this question using as participants 47 Mexican maquiladora workers. Through interview responses analyzed using a variation of grounded theory-building, we inductively created a model of voluntary turnover with research propositions. We then compared the new model to traditional turnover models, concluding that many of their constructs and mechanisms are familiar in the maquiladoras. However, the cultural and economic environment perceived by the workers help determine the precise antecedents, their salience, and the strength of their linkages with turnover. Finally, we suggest how turnover research might be extended to better apply to workers in other cultures.