Predicting Intention to Quit Through Supervisor Support and Growth Opportunities: Evidence from South African Hotels in Bloemfontein

Abstract

High employee turnover persists, particularly in the hospitality industry, and more specifically in food and beverage departments, where elevated attrition rates negatively impact the standard of service and the effectiveness of operations. This study examines the impact of supervisory support and growth opportunities on employees’ intention to quit (ITQ) within graded hotels. Data were collected from 92 food and beverage employees in Bloemfontein using structured questionnaires within a quantitative research framework. The results demonstrated a statistically significant negative correlation between ITQ and supervisory support (r = −0.366, p < 0.001), as well as between ITQ and growth opportunities (r = −0.355, p = 0.001). Managerial empathy and constructive feedback are identified as components of supervisory support that contribute to employee retention. Enhancing supportive leadership and clearly defining professional development pathways could significantly decrease turnover intention. These findings recommend that hotel managers incorporate tailored supervisory support and career development strategies within broader employee retention frameworks, particularly in operationally intensive departments such as Food & Beverage (F&B).