THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF MENTAL HEALTH ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYEE TURNOVER INTENTION AT PT SAFELOCK MEDICAL

Abstract

Employee turnover intention is a critical issue at PT Safelock Medical, a medical equipment manufacturer, given the high rates of employee entry and exit in contemporary organizations (research gap). This study investigates the role of career development as a retention strategy in mitigating turnover intention and explores the mediating role of employee mental health in this relationship (purpose). Mental health is posited as a strong predictor influencing employees' decisions to remain with the company. The study adopted a quantitative approach using a cross-sectional survey design, collecting data from 120 employees at PT Safelock Medical selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method (method). The PLS-SEM analysis results demonstrate that career development has a significant positive influence on employee retention intention. Furthermore, mental health was found to significantly mediate the relationship between career development and retention intention (main results). This indicates that effective career development programs not only enhance competency but also contribute to improved mental health, which ultimately strengthens employees' desire to stay. Practically, these findings underscore the necessity of a holistic investment in career pathways and mental health initiatives to boost employee retention within the healthcare manufacturing sector (conclusion).