PANIC OR PANDEMIC: ROLE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN HARNESSING THE PERCEIVED POST-COVID THREATS AND TURNOVER INTENTIONS AMONG EDUCATION SECTOR EMPLOYEES

Abstract

The present study attempts to investigate impact of the perceived post-Covid threats on the lives of the teachers and staff in higher education institutions of Pakistan, focusing specifically on turnover intention and mental health issues. The sample size of 384 included teachers and staff of the higher education institution of Rawalpindi & Islamabad region of Pakistan. Structural equation modelling using Smart PLS along was used for data analysis. The results show that there is a strong impact of perceived post-Covid threat on the turnover intentions provided the conditions of mental health i.e., stress, anxiety and depression among teachers in Higher Education sector. The study has implications for the top management and HEC Pakistan to modify the exiting polices by introducing practices and procedures to reduce the pressure on teachers and staff under these difficult times. A few policy recommendations are also presented to deal with the post-covid world of high volatility, complexity, uncertainty and anxiety.