The importance of management style in labour retention

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role that management style plays in retaining workers in a high labour turnover industry. Design/methodology/approach – Case study approach based upon extensive interviews with workers and managers derived from industry wide data set. Findings – Positive actions by management promote worker attachment to leaders and the organization and are crucial in sustaining work values that diminish the likelihood of turnover. Practical implications – Management style is a variable that is often overlooked in shaping worker attitudes and is crucial to understanding why workers stay in these firms. Originality/value – Whereas most studies of turnover focus upon individual attributes, we examine the structural characteristics of the workplace that permit workers of different ages and skill sets to maximise their efficiency and earnings and the role played by management style in decisively shaping that structure.