How a Supportive Learning Climate Impacts Professionals' Actual Turnover Behavior: A Survival Study

• In Event: Promoting Professional Development in Diverse Settings — Paper Session

Abstract

Turnover, professionals leaving their organization or even their domain, is a constant concern of many organizations. Turnover is associated with serious consequences, such as decreased performance. However, turnover also implies 'soft' costs: each professional leaving their organization or their domain takes with them knowledge and experiences that are crucial for performance. The present study explores whether an organization's learning climate lowers the likelihood of professionals leaving their firm and their professional domain, not only helping to create knowledge, but also to retain it. Using actual turnover behavior and survival analysis, we addresses the following research question: Are professionals who perceive the organization’s learning climate as supportive, less likely to leave (a) their firm, and (b) their professional domain?

Authors

• Therese Grohnert, Maastricht University

• Roger Meuwissen, Maastricht University

• Wim H. Gijselaers, Maastricht University