The Effect of in-Service Training Perception on Work Engagement Level and Intention to Leave

In-service training equips employees with the essential knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to perform their duties accurately and effectively. Beyond its immediate functional advantages, such training serves as a strategic instrument for workforce planning by proactively addressing skill gaps, mitigating personnel shortages, and ensuring the retention of highly qualified professionals. Additionally, the structured implementation of in-service training programs contributes to occupational safety by minimizing or eliminating work-related hazards. Furthermore, in-service training has a significant impact on employees' attitudes and behaviors towards their work and the organization. However, this effect is closely related to how employees perceive in-service training. This study explores the relationship between healthcare workers’ perceptions of in-service training and key dimensions of organizational behavior, specifically work engagement and intention to leave. The study utilized a quantitative research method, collecting data through a survey of 258 employees at a state hospital and analyzing it using structural equation modeling. Findings indicate that employees' positive perceptions of in-service training are significantly associated with enhanced work engagement. Furthermore, while no direct statistically significant relationship was observed between training perception and intention to leave, an indirect effect emerged: heightened work engagement mediated the relationship, leading to a reduced propensity to leave the organization.