This study investigates how work-life balance (WLB) influences the intention of IT professionals to leave their organizations, with employee engagement examined as a mediating factor. The research is grounded in the context of Chennai’s dynamic IT industry, where long working hours, stress, and role ambiguity have heightened attrition rates. Using a structured questionnaire and a sample of 665 IT professionals, the study employs correlation and regression analyses to explore the relationships among WLB, engagement, and attrition intent. The findings reveal that poor work-life balance significantly increases turnover intent, while higher engagement levels partially mediate this effect. These insights can guide HR practitioners to strengthen retention through targeted engagement strategies and flexible work policies. The technological intensity of the IT sector adds another layer to this dynamic. Agile project cycles, continuous client interactions across time zones, and the constant need to reskill in emerging technologies exacerbate work–life strain and complicate engagement outcomes. These IT-specific demands situate the findings firmly within the applied sciences and highlight the intersection of digital work structures and human capital challenges.
Bhavani. et al. (2025) studied this question.