Dark side of calling across cultures: an empirical investigation

This thesis examines the complex interplay between career calling, workaholism, perceived exploitation, and turnover intentions across Italy (N=246) and Japan (N=151). The primary objective is to determine whether approaching work as a calling moderates the effects of workaholism and perceived exploitation on turnover. Building on a solid theoretical framework, this study introduces a model for the study of the bright and dark sides of calling across countries. A cross-sectional design was employed, collecting data through surveys administered to employees in Italy and Japan. We observed that career calling does not moderate any effects except for how perceived exploitation impacts turnover intention, and that the moderation effect is positive in Italy and negative in Japan. In Italy, a strong sense of career calling increases the likelihood of leaving an exploitative organization, as individuals seek environments where they can fully express their calling without exploitation. Conversely, in Japan, career calling significantly reduces employees’ propensity to leave an organization despite facing exploitation, suggesting a dangerous tendency to keep staying in challenging work conditions. Our study highlights cross-cultural differences in individuals' experiences of calling and its impact on their work lives, underscoring the dual nature of career calling. On one hand, it acts as a protective mechanism, prompting individuals to leave stressful and exploitative environments. On the other hand, for some people in some situations, calling threaten employees’ well-being. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the dual facets of career calling and provides a framework for exploring how career calling manifests in scenarios involving workaholism, perceived exploitation, and turnover intentions. Additionally, our investigation into cultural diversity offers insights into the varying dynamics among these constructs across different cultural settings.