Unpacking the role of protean career attitudes and job crafting in employee turnover dynamics: the view of self-determination theory

Purpose This study aims to investigate the nuanced relationships between protean career attitudes, job crafting and turnover intentions, shedding light on the mediating role of job crafting and the conditional influence of intrinsic career motivation. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted with 406 full-time Thai employees and analyzed structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses and PROCESS Macro 4.0. Findings Protean career attitudes were found to have a positive relationship with job crafting, which suppress employees’ intention to quit the current job. Job crafting fully mediates the relationship between protean career attitudes and turnover intention. Moreover, intrinsic motivation strengthens the effect of protean career attitudes on job crafting. Practical implications This study emphasizes the managerial benefits of fostering adaptable career attitudes, encouraging job crafting and improving productivity, which positively impacts both individuals and the organization. Originality/value This study significantly enriches the existing literature by integrating the frameworks of protean career attitude and turnover intention through the lens of job crafting and self-determination theories, offering valuable insights for both academia and industry.