The Association between Workload and Turnover Intention: The mediating Role of Job Anxiety of Ready-Made Garment (RMG) Workers in Bangladesh

Ready-made garment (RMG) workers in Bangladesh face significant challenges, including excessive workload, job anxiety, low wages, long working hours, and poor working conditions. Job anxiety was used as a mediating factor to explore the association between workload and intention to turnover among RMG workers in Bangladesh. Workers experiencing high workload report greater job anxiety with an increasing likelihood of leaving their jobs. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 406 Bangladeshi RMG workers (mean age M = 26.51, SD = 6.21 ). We employed convenience sampling and interviewed them using a structured questionnaire to assess workload, job anxiety, and turnover intention. Results indicate that the workload considerably raised turnover intention both directly and indirectly through job anxiety. There was partial mediation of the association, with job anxiety accounting for 57.58%. Overall, workload predicted higher turnover intention, with job anxiety serving as a partial mediator associating workload with workers’ intention to quit. These findings emphasize the need for an effective workload management program, stress management program, and mental health support in the RMG industry. The study provides that workload is a psychological predictor of turnover intention in the RMG sectors.