Ananya Mishra
Independent Researcher
Madhya Pradesh, India
Abstract
The contemporary pharmaceutical landscape is characterized by rapid organizational changes, heightened regulatory scrutiny, and evolving employee expectations. Within chain pharmacies, pharmacists occupy both clinical and customer-facing roles, rendering their retention vital for service continuity, patient satisfaction, and organizational efficiency. Psychological contract theory offers a valuable lens through which to examine the implicit, unwritten expectations between employees and employers. When perceptions of these implicit promises are violated—a phenomenon termed psychological contract breach—employees may experience decreased job satisfaction, diminished organizational commitment, and increased turnover intentions. This study investigates the relationship between psychological contract breach and pharmacist retention within chain pharmacy settings. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research integrates quantitative survey data from 350 pharmacists across 25 pharmacy chains and qualitative interviews with 20 pharmacists who have either recently resigned or indicated strong turnover intentions. Results reveal that perceptions of breached promises—particularly regarding professional development opportunities, workload management, and managerial support—significantly predict turnover intentions (β = .48, p < .001) and actual resignations over a six‑month follow-up period (hazard ratio = 2.15, p < .01). Qualitative findings elucidate specific pathways through which unmet expectations erode loyalty, including feelings of betrayal and reduced self-efficacy. The study concludes that proactive contract management—through transparent communication, realistic expectation setting, and targeted retention interventions—can mitigate breach perceptions and bolster retention. Limitations include cross-sectional survey design and reliance on self-reported data. Future research should explore longitudinal dynamics of psychological contract fulfillment and test intervention efficacy.
Keywords
Psychological contract breach; pharmacist retention; chain pharmacies; turnover intention; organizational commitment
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