A study of the relationship between workplace attachment and job satisfaction

Workplace attachment as an emotional connection between the employee and his/her work environment is closely linked to job satisfaction. Several studies have identified place attachment as an antecedent of place satisfaction, while others have emphasized the influence of satisfaction on place attachment. It would seem that the two variables are linked, but the use of correlational designs constitutes a limit to these studies because it does not make it possible to determine the direction of the effect. The aim of this work is to explore the relationship between these two variables with a semilongitudinal design. This article presents an analysis of the relationship between workplace attachment and job satisfaction in a sample of 325 employees recruited from medium and small organizations. Its purpose is to identify the directionality of the effect using a semilongitudinal design. The results show that workplace attachment is a predictor of job satisfaction and not vice versa. The implications for HR are discussed.