The relevance of leader–member exchange during a crisis: assessing the mediating role of social exchange relationships to predict intention to leave

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how the strength of relations between organization, leader and nursing staff influences the intention to leave one’s job during crisis conditions. Drawing on social exchange theory, this study analyzes how perceived organizational support and leader–member exchange (LMX) mediate the effect of informational justice and personal protective equipment (PPE) on intention to leave among nurses. Design/methodology/approach: The research uses partial least squares structural equation modeling with a sample of 159 surveys from nurses gathered in Argentina during April–November 2020. Findings: The study finds that the LMX has a mediating effect between informational justice, the provision of PPE and the intention to leave. Perceived organizational support was not significantly related to the intention to leave due to COVID-19. Practical implications: Even during crises like COVID-19, high-quality relationships between supervisors and supervisees can reduce the likelihood of leaving an organization, while organizational support may be less important during such times. The findings suggest that organizations and health-care managers should pay attention to having effective planning and provision of PPE and provide clear and accurate information during crisis periods. Originality/value: The study contributes to social exchange theory literature during crises. The findings suggest that in times of crises in nursing, the LMX takes on greater significance and becomes central in explaining the connection between resources, information and the decision to leave one’s organization.