Behind the exit : Determinants of turnover intention in the Malaysian food manufacturing industry

This research aims to examine turnover intention among managerial-level employees in Malaysia’s food manufacturing industry. Adopting a quantitative approach, the study focuses on collecting numerical data for statistical analysis to better understand the organizational factors influencing turnover intention. A structured questionnaire was distributed online using a convenience sampling method to enable respondents to participate at any time and from any location. The sample comprised 102 managerial-level employees from food manufacturing firms in Shah Alam. Guided by Social Exchange Theory (SET), a set of hypotheses derived from the theoretical framework was tested using SPSS through correlation and multiple regression analyses. Empirical results revealed that all three independent variables reward system, employee promotion, and supervisory support significantly influence turnover intention. The findings provide valuable insights for the food manufacturing industry and contribute to the academic literature by offering empirical evidence on turnover intention in this under-researched sector. Practically, the results enable employers to identify critical areas for improvement, develop targeted retention strategies, and align organizational practices with employee needs to enhance workforce stability and organizational performance