Explore the psychological aspects of employee turnover drivers in the hospitality sector

Csaba Kőmíves, Marcell Kupi, Anne-Marie Lebrun () and Marica Mazurek
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Csaba Kőmíves: Széchenyi István University
Marcell Kupi: Széchenyi István University
Anne-Marie Lebrun: CREGO - Centre de Recherche en Gestion des Organisations - Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) - Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar - UMLP - Université Marie et Louis Pasteur - UBE - Université Bourgogne Europe
Marica Mazurek: University of Žilina

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Abstract: The hospitality industry relies heavily on employee satisfaction, which directly influences service quality, guest experience, and long‑term business success, yet workers often face demanding conditions such as irregular schedules, stress, and limited career opportunities. Research shows that supportive leadership, fair working conditions, and development opportunities can significantly improve satisfaction, reduce turnover, and strengthen organisational performance, while customer incivility has been found to harm job satisfaction and increase emotional exhaustion. This study examines the key factors shaping employee satisfaction in the Hungarian hospitality sector, aiming to identify effective practices that can enhance workplace culture and overall employee well‑being. This study aims to explore the indirect psychological factors that influence employees' length of stay in the hospitality sector, focusing on motivation, organizational culture, and professional development. A questionnairebased dataset (N = 407) was analyzed using linear regression and K-means cluster analysis to examine how psychological variables predict workplace tenure and identify employee typologies based on turnover tendencies. Motivation and positive organizational culture were strong predictors of long-term employment, while perceived professional development surprisingly correlated with shorter tenure. Three distinct employee clusters were identified with varying retention profiles. The findings provide nuanced insights into the interplay between individual psychological profiles and organizational retention dynamics, highlighting distinct patterns that can inform targeted HR development strategies. Turnover tendencies can be predicted by psychological factors. Tailored retention strategies – based on motivation, development needs, and cultural fit – are recommended to reduce workforce turnover in hospitality settings. Such evidence underscores the importance of integrating psychological profiling into HR decision‑making processes to proactively identify at‑risk employees and strengthen long‑term organizational stability.

Keywords: Cluster analysis; Hospitality industry; Organizational culture; Motivation; Employee turnover (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-06-30
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Published in GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 2026, 66 (2 supplement), pp.1314-1323. ⟨10.30892/gtg.662spl05-1766⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05737615

DOI: 10.30892/gtg.662spl05-1766

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