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. 2022 Jan 24:12:807887.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.807887. eCollection 2021.

The Generative Mechanism of Boomerang Intention: From the Perspective of Legacy Identification

Zehui Tian  1 , Qinghong Yuan  1 , Shanshan Qian  2 , Yanyan Liu  1
Affiliations

The Generative Mechanism of Boomerang Intention: From the Perspective of Legacy Identification

Zehui Tian et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Boomerang employment has become an increasingly significant third way to obtain employees, yet little research has focused on why does ex-employee want to come back. Drawing from social identity theory, we propose that legacy identification could increase boomerang intention and both perceived corporate prestige and psychological contract violation could affect boomerang intention through legacy identification. The cooperative relationship between the former organization and the current organization could enhance these effects. Results from a two-time points survey of 202 Chinese employees showed that legacy identification could increase boomerang intention, perceived corporate prestige could increase boomerang intention via legacy identification, psychological contract violation could decrease boomerang intention via legacy identification. Besides, the positive effect of legacy identification on boomerang intention, the positive indirect effect of corporate prestige on boomerang intention via legacy identification, and the negative indirect effect of psychological contract violation on boomerang intention via legacy identification are all stronger when there is a cooperative relationship. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords: boomerang employment; boomerang intention; legacy identification; organizational prestige; psychological contract violation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Hypothesized research model.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Moderating effect of cooperative relationship on the relationship between legacy identification and boomerang intention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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