Supervisor Support and Turnover Intention: Mediating Roles of Emotional Exhaustion and Work Engagement in Chemical Manufacturing Employees in Java

Christy Octaviani; Putri Mega Desiana

doi:10.59261/bustechno.v7i4.769

Authors

Christy Octaviani Universitas Indonesia
Putri Mega Desiana Universitas Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59261/bustechno.v7i4.769

Keywords:

Chemical Manufacturing, Emotional Exhaustion, Supervisor Support, Turnover Intention, Work Engagement

Abstract

Background: Employee retention has become a serious concern in Indonesia's chemical manufacturing industry, where turnover among production personnel was approximately 18% in 2023. Because these employees work under considerable physical and psychological demands, identifying the processes that shape their intention to leave is particularly important.

Objective: This research investigates whether emotional exhaustion and work engagement mediate the relationship between supervisor support and turnover intention among production workers employed by chemical manufacturing companies in Java.

Methods: The study was grounded in Job Demands-Resources Theory and Social Exchange Theory and used a quantitative, cross-sectional survey. An online questionnaire generated data from 260 permanent, non-managerial production workers. Covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) in SmartPLS 4 was used for the analysis.

Results: Supervisor support was not directly associated with turnover intention (β = -0.019; p = 0.384), although it significantly lowered emotional exhaustion and strengthened work engagement. Turnover intention increased significantly with emotional exhaustion and decreased significantly with work engagement. Both constructs transmitted the effect of supervisor support, and the indirect pathway through emotional exhaustion (β = -0.330; p < 0.001) was stronger than the pathway through work engagement (β = -0.114; p = 0.042).

Conclusion: Supervisor support relates to weaker turnover intention mainly by alleviating emotional exhaustion and enhancing work engagement, rather than through a significant direct association. Accordingly, retention efforts in chemical manufacturing should develop supervisory practices that safeguard employees' psychological health and reinforce their engagement at work.

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