The effects of organizational commitment and harmonious passion on voluntary turnover among social workers: A mixed methods study

Voluntary turnover among Social Workers (SWs) is increasing at an alarming rate. Not only is voluntary turnover rising, but employees' organizational commitment and harmonious passion are declining. This study explored and examined the effect organizational commitment and harmonious passion have on voluntary turnover among Child Protective Services (CPS) SWs. The study used a concurrent mixed-method design. Data collected during the quantitative phase provided information on the perceptions of SWs regarding organizational commitment, harmonious passion, and their intent to leave. The qualitative aspect of the study consisted of one-on-one interviews, which provided an opportunity for the SWs to tell their story in a meaningful way and provided a deeper explanation of their perceptions of organizational commitment, harmonious passion, voluntary turnover, and intent to leave. There were 226 SWs who completed the survey, and 29 SWs participated in an interview. The results of the study indicated organizational commitment and harmonious passion levels are low among CPS SWs who participated in the current study. The SWs of this study feel undervalued and need support and respect from CPS leaders to increase their levels of organizational commitment and harmonious passion.