Workplace health and safety, social support, and turnover intention in Private Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines

https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v5i1.2661
Published: Mar 6, 2025

Abstract:

Purpose: This study examined workplace health and safety, social support, and turnover intention among faculty members in private higher education institutions in Region XII. This study aimed to assess these factors and their influence on faculty retention.

Research Methodology: A descriptive quantitative research design was employed. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire that was validated and pilot-tested for reliability. The study involved 324 full-time faculty members from 20 private higher education institutions who were selected through stratified random sampling.

Results: The findings revealed that workplace health and safety practices, social support, and turnover intention play significant roles in faculty retention. Specifically, institutions have high workplace health and safety levels and social support. However, turnover intention was reported to be low across the sample. Social support, particularly belonging support, was rated the highest, whereas turnover intention across various factors remained low.

Limitations: This study was limited to private higher education institutions in Region XII, and the results may not be generalizable to other regions or types of educational institutions. Additionally, self-reporting could have introduced bias.

Contribution: This study contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of faculty retention in private higher education institutions, highlighting key factors such as health, safety, and social support.

Novelty: This research adds novel insights by focusing on the contextualized factors influencing faculty retention in Region XII, an area underrepresented in the existing literature.

Keywords:
1. Faculty Retention
2. Workplace Health and Safety
3. Social Support
4. Turnover Intention
5. Private Higher Education
Authors:
1 . May Maeh Camlian
Mindanao State University – General Santos City, Philippines
2 . Jomarie V. Baron
South Cotabato State College, Philippines
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How to Cite
Camlian, M. M., & Baron, J. V. (2025). Workplace health and safety, social support, and turnover intention in Private Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 5(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v5i1.2661
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Issue & Section
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): March
Articles
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References

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    Abun, D., Menor, R. I., Catabagan, N. C., Magallanes, T., & Ranay, F. B. (2021). Organizational climate and work engagement of employees of divine word colleges in Ilocos Region, Philippines. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science, 10(1), 107-121. 10.20525/ijrbs.v10i1.1017.

    Alkhodary, D. A. (2023). Exploring the relationship between organizational culture and well-being of educational institutions in Jordan. Administrative Sciences, 13(3), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci13030092.

    Baron, J. (2022). HIV/AIDS Awareness and the Level of Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Senior High School Students: An Evaluation. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 3(1), 43-55. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v3i1.1145.

    Baron, J. V. (2023). Level of cultural sensitivity and its influence on teachers’ performance. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 3(4), 271-283. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v3i4.1392.

    Baron, J. V. (2024). Climate change awareness and adaptation by rice farmers in Surallah, South Cotabato. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 4(3), 193-204. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v4i3.1854.

    Baron, J. V., & Cruz, J. A. D. (2023). The spiral progression approach in teaching science: Its Volatilities, Uncertainties, Complexities, and Ambiguities (VUCA). Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 3(2), 89-103. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v3i2.1194.

    Baron, J. V., & Robles, A. C. M. O. (2023). Structural equation model: Organizational performance among state universities and colleges in Philippines. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 3(4), 307-320. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v3i4.1505.

    Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis? Qualitative research in psychology, 18(3), 328-352. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238.

    Creswell, J. W. (2021). A concise introduction to mixed methods research: SAGE publications.

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    Diab, A., & Green, E. (2024). Cultivating resilience and success: Support systems for novice teachers in diverse contexts. Education Sciences, 14(7), 711. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14070711.

    Eduful, J. (2021). Predictors of Faculty Retention and Turnover Intent in State System Institutions: An Institution's Work Environment (Organizational Structure) Impacts on Faculty Gender Composition and Intention to Leave or Stay: South Dakota State University.

    Elrayah, M., & Zakariya, A. (2023). Effects of Employees Mental Health, Physical Health and Work Life-balance on Employees Performance and Turnover Intention. Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 50(6).

    Hoyos, C. A., & Serna, C. A. (2021). Rewards and faculty turnover: An individual differences approach. Cogent Education, 8(1), 1863170. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2020.1863170.

    Hu, X., Yan, H., Casey, T., & Wu, C.-H. (2021). Creating a safe haven during the crisis: How organizations can achieve deep compliance with COVID-19 safety measures in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 92, 102662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102662.

    Ilyas, S., Abid, G., & Ashfaq, F. (2023). The impact of perceived organizational support on professional commitment: a moderation of burnout and mediation of well-being. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 43(7/8), 710-726. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-06-2022-0170.

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    Marcionetti, J., & Castelli, L. (2023). The job and life satisfaction of teachers: a social cognitive model integrating teachers’ burnout, self-efficacy, dispositional optimism, and social support. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 23(2), 441-463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-021-09516-w.

    Meku Lelo, J. (2024). The Effect of Work Environment on Employees' Job Satisfaction: Empirical Evidence from the Banking Industry. Jurnal Manajemen Teori dan Terapan, 17(1).

    Mustafa, M., Alzubi, F. K., & Bashayreh, A. (2021). Factors Affecting Job Performance of Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff in Higher Education Levels in Oman. Ilkogretim Online, 20(5). 10.17051/ilkonline.2021.05.252.

    Nguyen, T. D., Pham, L. N. T., & Vo, A. H. K. (2023). Faculty turnover intention in Vietnamese public universities: the impact of leader-member exchange, psychological safety, and job embeddedness. Public Organization Review, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-023-00745-x.

    Obeng, H. A., Arhinful, R., Mensah, L., & Owusu-Sarfo, J. S. (2024). Assessing the Influence of the Knowledge Management Cycle on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Culture Considering the Interplay of Employee Engagement. Sustainability, 16(20), 8728. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16208728.

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    Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Mixed methods research. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3), 305-306. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1262619.

    Qambar, G., & Waheed, S. A. (2021). Climbing the Career Ladder: Understanding Lived Experiences of University Faculty with Delayed Progression. Ilkogretim Online, 20(2). 10.17051/ilkonline.2021.02.129.

    Richter, E., Lucksnat, C., Redding, C., & Richter, D. (2022). Retention intention and job satisfaction of alternatively certified teachers in their first year of teaching. Teaching and Teacher Education, 114, 103704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2022.103704.

    Riola, I. R. (2024). Why Are They Staying? A Qualitative Study on Teacher Persistence in Philippine Catholic Schools. Saint Mary's College of California.

    Scott, S. R. (2024). Stimulating Faculty Participation in Supporting and Developing Change Initiatives.

    Shaterjalali, M., Gholampoor, Y., Jeihooni, A. K., Mansoori, Y., Homayounfar, R., Ehrampoush, E., & Karimi, S. (2021). Faculty retention in regional medical schools in Iran: a qualitative content analysis. BMC Medical Education, 21, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02473-y.

    Simpal, E. A., & Robles, A. C. (2024). Education 4.0: Awareness, Readiness, and Digital Competence of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Faculty in Region XII. Readiness and Digital Competence of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Faculty in Region XII (November 10, 2024).

    Sims, S., & Fletcher-Wood, H. (2021). Identifying the characteristics of effective teacher professional development: a critical review. School effectiveness and school improvement, 32(1), 47-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/09243453.2020.1772841.

    Sorensen, G., Dennerlein, J. T., Peters, S. E., Sabbath, E. L., Kelly, E. L., & Wagner, G. R. (2021). The future of research on work, safety, health and wellbeing: A guiding conceptual framework. Social science & medicine, 269, 113593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113593.

    Toufighi, S. P., Sahebi, I. G., Govindan, K., Lin, M. Z. N., Vang, J., & Brambini, A. (2024). Participative leadership, cultural factors, and speaking-up behaviour: An examination of intra-organisational knowledge sharing. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 9(3), 100548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100548.

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    Yan, Z., Mansor, Z. D., Choo, W. C., & Abdullah, A. R. (2021). How to reduce employees’ turnover intention from the psychological perspective: A mediated moderation model. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 185-197. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S293839.

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  1. Abdelwahed, N. A. A., & Doghan, M. A. A. (2023). Developing employee productivity and performance through work engagement and organizational factors in an educational society. Societies, 13(3), 65. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13030065.
  2. Abun, D., Menor, R. I., Catabagan, N. C., Magallanes, T., & Ranay, F. B. (2021). Organizational climate and work engagement of employees of divine word colleges in Ilocos Region, Philippines. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science, 10(1), 107-121. 10.20525/ijrbs.v10i1.1017.
  3. Alkhodary, D. A. (2023). Exploring the relationship between organizational culture and well-being of educational institutions in Jordan. Administrative Sciences, 13(3), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci13030092.
  4. Baron, J. (2022). HIV/AIDS Awareness and the Level of Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Senior High School Students: An Evaluation. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 3(1), 43-55. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v3i1.1145.
  5. Baron, J. V. (2023). Level of cultural sensitivity and its influence on teachers’ performance. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 3(4), 271-283. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v3i4.1392.
  6. Baron, J. V. (2024). Climate change awareness and adaptation by rice farmers in Surallah, South Cotabato. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 4(3), 193-204. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v4i3.1854.
  7. Baron, J. V., & Cruz, J. A. D. (2023). The spiral progression approach in teaching science: Its Volatilities, Uncertainties, Complexities, and Ambiguities (VUCA). Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 3(2), 89-103. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v3i2.1194.
  8. Baron, J. V., & Robles, A. C. M. O. (2023). Structural equation model: Organizational performance among state universities and colleges in Philippines. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 3(4), 307-320. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v3i4.1505.
  9. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis? Qualitative research in psychology, 18(3), 328-352. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238.
  10. Creswell, J. W. (2021). A concise introduction to mixed methods research: SAGE publications.
  11. Crosby, M. (2022). Examining the relationship between organizational health and faculty satisfaction in institutions of higher education. Indiana State University.
  12. Diab, A., & Green, E. (2024). Cultivating resilience and success: Support systems for novice teachers in diverse contexts. Education Sciences, 14(7), 711. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14070711.
  13. Eduful, J. (2021). Predictors of Faculty Retention and Turnover Intent in State System Institutions: An Institution's Work Environment (Organizational Structure) Impacts on Faculty Gender Composition and Intention to Leave or Stay: South Dakota State University.
  14. Elrayah, M., & Zakariya, A. (2023). Effects of Employees Mental Health, Physical Health and Work Life-balance on Employees Performance and Turnover Intention. Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 50(6).
  15. Hoyos, C. A., & Serna, C. A. (2021). Rewards and faculty turnover: An individual differences approach. Cogent Education, 8(1), 1863170. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2020.1863170.
  16. Hu, X., Yan, H., Casey, T., & Wu, C.-H. (2021). Creating a safe haven during the crisis: How organizations can achieve deep compliance with COVID-19 safety measures in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 92, 102662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102662.
  17. Ilyas, S., Abid, G., & Ashfaq, F. (2023). The impact of perceived organizational support on professional commitment: a moderation of burnout and mediation of well-being. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 43(7/8), 710-726. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-06-2022-0170.
  18. Jiang, L., Wider, W., Ye, G., Tee, M., Hye, A. M., Lee, A., & Tanucan, J. C. M. (2024). Exploring the factors of employee turnover intentions in private education institutions in China: a Delphi study. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1), 2413915. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2413915.
  19. Kavouras, S., Vardopoulos, I., Mitoula, R., Zorpas, A. A., & Kaldis, P. (2022). Occupational health and safety scope significance in achieving sustainability. Sustainability, 14(4), 2424. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042424.
  20. Lee Cunningham, J., Gino, F., Cable, D. M., & Staats, B. R. (2021). Seeing oneself as a valued contributor: Social worth affirmation improves team information sharing. Academy of Management journal, 64(6), 1816-1841. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2018.0790.
  21. Marcionetti, J., & Castelli, L. (2023). The job and life satisfaction of teachers: a social cognitive model integrating teachers’ burnout, self-efficacy, dispositional optimism, and social support. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 23(2), 441-463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-021-09516-w.
  22. Meku Lelo, J. (2024). The Effect of Work Environment on Employees' Job Satisfaction: Empirical Evidence from the Banking Industry. Jurnal Manajemen Teori dan Terapan, 17(1).
  23. Mustafa, M., Alzubi, F. K., & Bashayreh, A. (2021). Factors Affecting Job Performance of Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff in Higher Education Levels in Oman. Ilkogretim Online, 20(5). 10.17051/ilkonline.2021.05.252.
  24. Nguyen, T. D., Pham, L. N. T., & Vo, A. H. K. (2023). Faculty turnover intention in Vietnamese public universities: the impact of leader-member exchange, psychological safety, and job embeddedness. Public Organization Review, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-023-00745-x.
  25. Obeng, H. A., Arhinful, R., Mensah, L., & Owusu-Sarfo, J. S. (2024). Assessing the Influence of the Knowledge Management Cycle on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Culture Considering the Interplay of Employee Engagement. Sustainability, 16(20), 8728. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16208728.
  26. Ortiz, M. K. P., Melad, K. A. M., Araos, N. V. V., Orbeta, A. C., & Reyes, C. M. (2019). Process evaluation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931): Status and prospects for improved implementation.
  27. Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Mixed methods research. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3), 305-306. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1262619.
  28. Qambar, G., & Waheed, S. A. (2021). Climbing the Career Ladder: Understanding Lived Experiences of University Faculty with Delayed Progression. Ilkogretim Online, 20(2). 10.17051/ilkonline.2021.02.129.
  29. Richter, E., Lucksnat, C., Redding, C., & Richter, D. (2022). Retention intention and job satisfaction of alternatively certified teachers in their first year of teaching. Teaching and Teacher Education, 114, 103704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2022.103704.
  30. Riola, I. R. (2024). Why Are They Staying? A Qualitative Study on Teacher Persistence in Philippine Catholic Schools. Saint Mary's College of California.
  31. Scott, S. R. (2024). Stimulating Faculty Participation in Supporting and Developing Change Initiatives.
  32. Shaterjalali, M., Gholampoor, Y., Jeihooni, A. K., Mansoori, Y., Homayounfar, R., Ehrampoush, E., & Karimi, S. (2021). Faculty retention in regional medical schools in Iran: a qualitative content analysis. BMC Medical Education, 21, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02473-y.
  33. Simpal, E. A., & Robles, A. C. (2024). Education 4.0: Awareness, Readiness, and Digital Competence of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Faculty in Region XII. Readiness and Digital Competence of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Faculty in Region XII (November 10, 2024).
  34. Sims, S., & Fletcher-Wood, H. (2021). Identifying the characteristics of effective teacher professional development: a critical review. School effectiveness and school improvement, 32(1), 47-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/09243453.2020.1772841.
  35. Sorensen, G., Dennerlein, J. T., Peters, S. E., Sabbath, E. L., Kelly, E. L., & Wagner, G. R. (2021). The future of research on work, safety, health and wellbeing: A guiding conceptual framework. Social science & medicine, 269, 113593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113593.
  36. Toufighi, S. P., Sahebi, I. G., Govindan, K., Lin, M. Z. N., Vang, J., & Brambini, A. (2024). Participative leadership, cultural factors, and speaking-up behaviour: An examination of intra-organisational knowledge sharing. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 9(3), 100548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100548.
  37. Vavasseur, B. (2024). A Qualitative Study of Job Satisfaction, Work-Life Balance, and Sense of Belonging, on Well-Being and Retention of Faculty in Louisiana’s Public Higher Education Institutions. University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
  38. Wang, Q., Gan, K.-P., Wei, H.-Y., Sun, A.-Q., Wang, Y.-C., & Zhou, X.-M. (2024). Public service motivation and public employees' turnover intention: the role of job satisfaction and career growth opportunity. Personnel Review, 53(1), 99-118. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-11-2020-0836.
  39. Yan, Z., Mansor, Z. D., Choo, W. C., & Abdullah, A. R. (2021). How to reduce employees’ turnover intention from the psychological perspective: A mediated moderation model. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 185-197. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S293839.
  40. Yee, K. M. (2022). The Changing Landscape of Philippine Higher Education: Going Beyond the Public and Private Debate. Issues in Philippine Higher Education, 1.