Commitment, Absenteeism, and Turnover of New Employees: A Longitudinal Study

Longitudinal data were collected to explore the relationships among loss of commitment, absenteeism, and employee turnover. Using a median-based approach to investigate the structure of withdrawal among 52 nurses and 36 accountants, it was found that both loss of commitment and increased absenteeism preceded turnover. Decreases in commitment were better predictors of turnover than increases in absenteeism, although stayers in both occupational groups were distinguished by unchanging patterns of zero median days absent. Implications for the progression theory of job withdrawal are discussed.