Organizational Experiences and Propensity to Leave: A Multivariate Investigation of Men and Women Managers

Abstract

This study explored sex differences in managers′ workplace experiences and affective responses to their jobs and the contribution of these variables to their propensity to leave organizations. Differences in reasons for leaving were also investigated. A sample of 303 women and 238 men responded to a survey which measured personal, organizational, and positional attributes, as well as met expectations, reasons for leaving, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and intention to leave. An ANCOVA controlling for differences in age and experience showed sex differences in marital status, number of children, income, perceptions of job demands, and met expectations. Hierarchical regressions found no differences in the contribution of the variables to quit intentions. Position characteristics, commitment and satisfaction were important predictors of turnover intentions for both men and women. The results support situation-centered rather than person-centered explanations for apparent sex differences.