Problematic customers and turnover intentions of customer service employees
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of problematic customer behaviors on customer service employee attitudes and subsequent turnover intentions from the organization and also the occupation.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from five semi‐structured depth interviews and 215 quantitative surveys using structured questionnaires were used to develop and test the theoretical model. Customer service employees working in different call center companies serving American customers were approached using an established survey panel.
Findings
Results using the partial least squares (PLS) methodology showed that problematic customer behaviors drain customer service employees emotionally. Emotional exhaustion is negatively related to job satisfaction, and subsequently, employees' turnover intentions. The results also show that turnover intentions with organization and occupation are positively related to each other.
Research limitations/implications
As regards implications, this study provides an understanding of the relationship between problematic customer behaviors and employees' turnover intentions. Future researchers can utilize the findings from this study for investigating other consequences and antecedents of problematic customer behaviors. A limitation of the study is its use of cross‐sectional data.
Practical implications
This paper provides call center managers with an understanding of the effects of problematic customer behaviors on employee attitudes. It discusses the need for understanding problematic customers and ways to manage the effects of such experiences.
Originality/value
The study investigates an under‐researched phenomenon, i.e. problematic customer behaviors. The study provides evidence of the relationship between problematic customer behaviors and turnover intentions in service employees. This study is also one of very few in marketing to investigate the relationship between organizational and occupational turnover intentions.
Keywords
Citation
Poddar, A. and Madupalli, R. (2012), "Problematic customers and turnover intentions of customer service employees", Journal of Services Marketing, Vol. 26 No. 7, pp. 551-559. https://doi.org/10.1108/08876041211266512
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited