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Using conservation of resources (COR) theory (Hobfoll, 1989, 2002), we first investigated the direct influence of overqualification on turnover intention. Second, we tested whether the perceived work-life balance affects the relationship between overqualification and turnover intention. To that end, we used questionnaires to conduct independent field studies of two groups of Canadian workers: 227 local human resources professionals and 237 immigrant employees. Both studies confirmed that perceived overqualification increased their intention to quit their jobs. Perceived work-life balance moderated the relationship between overqualification and turnover intention only among the immigrant employees. This paper sheds light on how perceived overqualification can affect the intention to quit a job among local and immigrant employees. It also shows how perceived work-life balance can affect the relationship between perceived overqualification and the intention to quit a job.

Publisher: Département des relations industrielles de l’Université Laval