Understanding Employee Retention in High-Turnover Industries: The Role of Wellbeing, Work Engagement, and Workplace Spirituality

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of employee wellbeing and work engagement on intention to stay, with workplace spirituality serving as a moderating variable in the Food and Beverage (F&B) sector. This study is guided by Social Exchange Theory (SET) and employs a quantitative approach using a Likert-scale questionnaire. Data were collected from 180 F&B employees in Yogyakarta, a major province in Indonesia. The constructs were measured with validated instruments and analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results indicate that employee wellbeing and work engagement both have significant and positive effects on intention to stay. However, workplace spirituality does not significantly moderate these relationships. These findings suggest that enhancing wellbeing and engagement is essential for retaining employees. The influence of workplace spirituality may vary depending on the organizational context. Future research is recommended to investigate alternative moderating variables, such as resilience or perceived organizational support, within the framework of Social Exchange Theory, and to conduct generational comparisons to gain deeper insights into variations in employee retention behavior.