Why do People Stay in Their Jobs? Perceived  Organizational Support, Meaningful Work, and the  Intention to Stay in the Organization

Daniela RUSU-MOCĂNAŞU

doi:10.35219/sociologie.2025.20.10

Daniela RUSU-MOCĂNAŞU PhD, Senior Lecturer, ”Duna rea de Jos” University of Galati, Romania https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9355-2196

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35219/sociologie.2025.20.10

Keywords: Perceived Organizational Support, Meaningful Work, Intention to Stay, Intention to Leave, Employee Retention, Turnover Intention

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between Perceived Organizational Support (POS), Meaningful Work (MW), and the Intention to Stay in the organization (ITS), through a selective narrative review of the literature. It examines bidirectional mediation effects, considering MW as a mediator between POS and ITS, and POS as a mediator between MW and ITS. The study also introduces a conceptual matrix depicting four scenarios based on high and low levels of POS and MW, and their influence on employees’ intention to stay.
Evidence from the literature highlights that POS and MW play complementary and interdependent roles in shaping ITS. The analysis provides an integrated perspective with implications for theory and practice, particularly for organizational retention strategies.