Creativity and turnover intention among hotel chefs: The mediating effects of job satisfaction and job stress

Chefs may be satisfied with creativity in their job but considerable occupational stress may press them to consider leaving their jobs. A study was therefore conducted to examine the relationships among creativity, job satisfaction, job stress and turnover intention among chefs. Creativity was defined operationally as selection of, socialization in and enthusiasm with the chef's job. Job satisfaction was defined as satisfaction with the intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of the chef's role. Job stress reflected workload and adequacy of resources. Turnover intention was defined as the frequency of thoughts and strength of inclination to leave the job. It was hypothesized that creativity would predict turnover intention and that job satisfaction and occupational stress would independently and serially mediate the relationship between creativity and turnover intention. A total of 145 chefs in international chain hotels participated in this study. Using regression with bootstrapping job satisfaction was not found to be an independent mediator of the creativity-turnover intention relationship; however job satisfaction and job stress serially mediated this relationship. Results of the study suggest that culinary organizations should provide a work milieu in which chefs can express their creativity and have a sense of control over their work.