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Retaining Generation Z employees in the hotel industry: a time-lag study

Xiaoman Zhou (School of Geography and Tourism, Chongqing Normal University – University Town Campus, Chongqing, China)
Christina Geng-Qing Chi (School of Hospitality Business Management, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA and School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)
Biyan Wen (Shenzhen Tourism College, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China and School of Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China)

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management

ISSN: 0959-6119

Article publication date: 30 April 2024

699

Abstract

Purpose

Generation Z (Gen Z) is entering the hotel workforce and will soon become the dominant group. This has called for a better understanding of this workforce’s attitudes and perceptions towards working in the hotel industry. This study aims to examine the effect of organizational socialization on the retention of Chinese Gen Z employees, the mediating role of person–environment fit (P-E fit) and the moderating effect of career commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

Time-lagged data were collected from 426 Gen Z new employees from 20 upscale hotels at two different times (2 weeks and 12 weeks after the employees entered the hotel). Confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, bootstrapping analysis and moderated hierarchical regression analyses were used for data analysis.

Findings

Organizational socialization positively affects employee retention via person–environment fit. Moreover, career commitment positively moderates the relationship between person–environment fit and employee retention.

Practical implications

Hotels must view organizational socialization as a long-term investment in Gen Z talent management by offering effective training through diverse methods, creating a collaborative environment and helping them develop career plans to enhance their career commitment.

Originality/value

This study unpacks the four dimensions of organizational socialization and investigates their differential effects on Gen Z employees’ retention through P-E fit. The moderating role of career commitment is also examined. This study contributes to the growing body of hospitality human resources management research on this new generation of workforce in China.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This project is funded by the Chongqing Federation of Social Sciences Foundation (No. 2023BS052), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 71472075), Educational Science Foundation of Chongqing (No. K23YY2050004).

Declarations of interest: None.

Citation

Zhou, X., Chi, C.G.-Q. and Wen, B. (2024), "Retaining Generation Z employees in the hotel industry: a time-lag study", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-09-2023-1344

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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