Hotel employees’ intention to stay through psychological contract fulfillment and positive emotions in post-lockdown era

Purpose The study aims to investigate hotel employees’ intentions to stay in industry with the mediating role of psychological contract fulfilment (PCF) and moderating role of positive emotions and position held (frontline employees vs managers) in post-lockdown era. Design/methodology/approach The study has followed quantitative approach following the cross-sectional design. 414 respondents of hotel industry were contacted via online and offline method. The data was analysed using partial least square method using SmartPLS 3.0. Findings The findings suggest that perceived organizational support and supervisor trust had a good impact on psychological contract fulfilment and contributed positively to psychological empowerment. Additionally, psychological empowerment positively impacted psychological well-being and psychological well-being positively impacted intention to stay in hotel industry. PCF positively mediated the relationship between organizational support, trust in supervisor and psychological empowerment. Positive emotions positively moderated the relationship between PCF and psychological empowerment. Multi-group analysis revealed that the managers and frontline employees perceived the PCF and psychological well-being differently. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the few to explore the intention to stay in hotel industry by integrating social exchange theory, organization support theory and broaden-and-build theory post lockdown circumstances.