The Impact of Flexible Working Arrangements on Turnover Intentions as Mediated by Job Control among Selected IT-BPM Employees in Cebu

Abstract

Employee turnover is a persistent challenge in the Information Technology–Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector, particularly in the Philippines where attrition rates remain among the highest in Asia. Although flexible working arrangements (FWAs) are increasingly used to improve retention, previous studies offer inconsistent findings and provide limited evidence on the mediating role of job control. This study examined the effect of FWAs on turnover intention, with job control as a mediating variable, among 589 IT-BPM employees in Cebu City. A quantitative, correlational, and cross-sectional design was employed, and data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS 4.0. The measurement model demonstrated strong reliability and validity, while the structural model showed acceptable fit and predictive relevance. The findings indicated that FWAs significantly increased job control but unexpectedly showed a positive direct effect on turnover intention, suggesting that flexibility may heighten intentions to leave when not paired with adequate support or clear work–life boundaries. Job control exhibited a significant negative effect on turnover intention, confirming its role as a protective factor against attrition. Mediation analysis revealed a competitive mediation effect in which the autonomy generated by FWAs offset, but did not fully eliminate, their positive direct influence on turnover intention. The study contributes to Social Exchange Theory by clarifying that the benefits of FWAs depend on employees’ perceptions of fairness, autonomy, and organizational support. Practically, the results suggest that IT-BPM firms must strengthen job control mechanisms to ensure that FWAs translate into meaningful autonomy. Future research may integrate additional psychological, organizational, and contextual variables using longitudinal and comparative designs.