Spiritual employee engagement and work–life balance as predictors of turnover intentions in the agrochemical sector

Abstract

Orientation: The study emphasises the increasing employee turnover intention (ETI) among millennial employees, focusing on millennial field staff in the agrochemical industry in Java, Indonesia.
Research purpose: The research purpose is to develop a predictive model of ETI by examining the roles of work–life balance (WLB) and spiritual employee engagement (SEE).
Motivation for the study: There is a need to explore new factors, such as SEE combined with WLB, to better understand how to reduce ETI among millennial field staff, who have high turnover rates. The research also explores a new indicator, spiritual humility (SH), as part of the SEE variable.
Research approach/design and method: Quantitative research using a structural equation modelling approach. Data were collected from 345 millennial field staff members using proportionate stratified random sampling. Analysis was performed using SmartPLS 4.0 software following expert judgement.
Main findings: The study found that improving WLB significantly reduces ETI. Spiritual employee engagement mediates the relationship between WLB and ETI. Spiritual humility is identified as a key indicator of SEE.
Practical/managerial implications: Organisations should implement retention strategies that promote SEE and foster spiritual values. There is a need for flexible WLB policies and well-being support programmes to enhance millennials’ retention.
Contribution/value-add: The study highlights the role of spirituality in predicting ETI, with SH emerging as a key indicator in religious-cultural settings in eastern countries. It integrates spirituality into social exchange theory, providing effective retention strategies for millennial employees.