Unravelling how flourishing shapes employee retention intention: The sequential mediating roles of workplace well-being and work engagement

Abstract

Orientation: Employee retention represents a critical challenge for organisations, with flourishing increasingly recognised as a psychological resource that supports employees’ willingness to stay.
Research purpose: This study examines the relationship between flourishing and employee retention intention, testing the mediating roles of workplace well-being and work engagement.
Motivation for the study: While flourishing has been associated with positive outcomes, limited evidence exists on the mechanisms through which it fosters employees’ intention to remain. Addressing this gap advances theory and informs HR practice.
Research approach/design and method: A cross-sectional survey of 401 employees was conducted using validated instruments. Hypotheses were tested with Hayes’s PROCESS macro (Model 6), supported by confirmatory factor analysis and bootstrapping.
Main findings: All hypotheses were supported. Flourishing predicted employee retention intention directly and indirectly. Workplace well-being and work engagement acted as mediators, with workplace well-being emerging as the strongest pathway. The sequential effect was also significant, though weaker than the simple mediations.
Practical/managerial implications: HR practitioners should design policies that promote flourishing and create supportive environments that enhance workplace well-being and work engagement. Tailored interventions are needed across generations, roles and tenure groups to address workforce diversity.
Contribution/value-add: The study integrates flourishing, workplace well-being and work engagement into a single framework, clarifying their contributions to employee retention intention. It advances understanding of positive organisational psychology while offering actionable strategies for sustainable HRM in competitive labour markets.