Impact of Work-Life Balance on Employee Departure Intention: A Moderated Mediation Model of Psychological Distress and Workplace Mindfulness in the Corporate Sector

Abstract

The pressure to work, be connected with technology, and be expected to perform to a high standard in the modern corporate world has made it more difficult to balance work and life. High employee turnover intention, burnout, stress, and psychological distress are often caused by poor work-life balance. While the correlation between work-life balance and turnover intention has been studied before, few studies have investigated the impact of psychological distress and workplace mindfulness together. The current study investigates how work-life balance affects the intention to leave an organization by analysing the mediating influence of psychological distress and the moderating influence of mindfulness in the workplace among employees in corporate organizations. This study is of the quantitative type with an explanatory research design, taking primary data from 150 employees of corporations using a structured questionnaire. SPSS and WarpPLS were used for Statistical techniques such as correlation, regression, mediation, moderation, and moderated mediation analysis using the technique of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). This study will examine four key variables: work-life balance, psychological distress, workplace mindfulness, and intention to leave. The findings expected are the negative influence of work-life balance on employee departure intention mediated by psychological distress. Reduced negative impacts of psychological distress are expected in the workplace when psychological distress is reduced by workplace mindfulness. The study highlights the importance of employee wellness initiatives, flexible work policies, and mindfulness-based interventions for improving employee retention.