Influence of Leader Gratitude Expression on Employees’ Intention to Stay: A Study of Private Colleges and Universities in Zhengzhou, China

Abstract

This research aims to study the influence of leader gratitude expression on employees' intention to stay. Based on the Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions, Sources of Social Information Processing Theory, and Social Exchange Theory, the author finds the key factors in the relationships between the leader gratitude expression and employees’ intention to stay as presented below: No significant positive relationship between leadership gratitude expression and the employees' intention to stay. However, expressing leadership gratitude has a considerable positive impact on affective commitment. The affective commitment has a positive impact on employees' intention to stay. Leader gratitude expression has a positive impact on employees' organization-based self-esteem. Employees' Organization-based self-esteem has a positive impact on their intention to stay. Leader gratitude expression positively impacts employees' intention to remain through the employees' affective commitment and the employees' organization-based self-esteem.