Understanding the role of supervisor support in retaining employees and enhancing their satisfaction with life

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association of supervisor support with organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and life satisfaction, while also examining the mediating role of quality of work life (QWL) in these associations. Design/methodology/approach For testing the research hypotheses, data were collected from 244 respondents working in organizations within the organized retail sector in India. Existing, established scales were used to measure the research constructs. Findings The results of this study indicate that supervisor support was positively related to QWL. Moreover, QWL was found to be positively related to organizational commitment and life satisfaction, whereas a negative association was observed between QWL and turnover intentions. Finally, the results show that QWL mediated the association of supervisor support with organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and life satisfaction. Practical implications The current study suggests that a supportive supervisor enhances employees’ emotional attachment to the organization and life satisfaction by augmenting their QWL. The findings of this study may be helpful for organizational leaders in designing human resource practices that focus on enhancing supervisor support. An enhanced level of supervisor support may further help in retaining employees and improving their lives in today’s highly competitive and stressful business environment. Originality/value Although the association of supervisor support with employee attitudes and behavior at work has been extensively investigated, previous research did not clarify how supervisor support is linked to these outcomes. By investigating the mediating role of QWL, this research elucidates the underlying mechanisms linking supervisor support with organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and life satisfaction. This research provides an important contribution not only to the workplace support literature, but also to the field of human resource management.