Will Employees Speak Out? The Impact of Training and Job Satisfaction on Approach Intention

Introduction: Approach intention, which describes how confident employees feel about talking to others who engage in unsafe behaviors, has been identified as a successful technique to reduce levels of unsafe behaviors and could be used as an indicator of food safety culture. Hence employees with a high approach intention can be extremely helpful in reducing the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks. However, little empirical research has been conducted on investigating the factors that can improve approach intention.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the impact of perceived training quality and job satisfaction on employees’ approach intention of food safety.

Methods: A survey was designed to collect food workers input on current employment, training, job satisfaction and approach intention with regards to food safety with 1,203 responses received nationwide. A content adequacy survey was conducted to validate the survey scale. Structure equation modeling (AMOS 4.0) was used to explore the relationships among perceived training, job satisfaction, and approach intention.

Results: Adequate construct validity was proved by using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (χ²= 2.67; P<0.01; CFI= 0.986; RMSEA= 0.041 ;). Relationships were tested by structure equation modeling (SEM). The results showed perceived training quality is positively related to job satisfaction (β = 0.545; P< 0.01), perceived training quality is positively related to approach intention (β = 0.122; P< 0.01), and job satisfaction is positively related to approach intention (β = 0.632; P< 0.01). The mediation effect of job satisfaction on perceived training quality and approach intention was supported by significant bootstrap test.

Significance: The results of study imply that when employees perceive high quality training and are satisfied with their job, they are more likely to make an effort to report potential food safety problems.