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Purpose: The purpose of the present empirical study is to examine the factors that have an impact on the turnover intention of European employees, with an emphasis on the mediating role of working conditions. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study follows a quantitative approach. An original conceptual framework (research model) has been developed and empirically tested, using primary data collected from employees in five different European countries. Findings: The study, among others, underlines the huge impact of employee commitment and job satisfaction on increasing the intention of employees to stay in the same company, while it also highlights the mechanism that impacts employee retention. Practical Implications: The study suggests that companies should built supportive working relationships, good organizational climate, and develop supportive HR practices. Retention can be indirectly influenced by focusing on the overall conditions of the workplace (e.g., work environment, supervisor support) and on HR initiatives (e.g., career opportunities). Originality/value: The proposed conceptual framework synthesizes the finding of numerous previous studies, offering a holistic approach that can enhance the understanding about the issue of employee retention. It categorizes the antecedents of retention in three dimensions; tangible, intangible and strategic. Finally, the present study collects empirical data from five European countries, an approach rarely adopted in the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present study empirically investigates the shopping culture and behavior of Greek consumers, taking under consideration various factors that affect their purchase decisions. Consumer culture has become one of the most powerful characteristics that influence both individual and groups decisions. Even though consumer behavior and purchase intention models are continuing to dominate the academic research and everyday practice of the management science, they could not imprint the whole picture of today's culture evolution. Today, consumers operate in a dynamic and constantly changing environment that dictates the constant re-evaluation of purchase intentions and decisions. In order to investigate the impact of contextual factors, brand loyalty and brand switching on consumer purchase decisions a empirical survey was conducted with the use of a structured questionnaire on a sample of Greek consumers, aged between eighteen (18) and fifty five years (55). The size of the sample was four hundred and fifty (450) questionnaires. The findings reveal that contextual factors have the strongest influence on purchase decisions and have an impact on both brand loyalty and brand switching. Moreover, the findings provide important insights rega rding the factors that practitioners should enhance in order to tailor their marketing approaches. In general, the present study offers knowledge to managers and researchers on the issues of purchase decisions, brand loyalty, brand switching, and contextual factors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In a global environment of intense competition and continuous change, companies need to focus on improving the level of their services and enhance the satisfaction of their customers in order to stay competitive and achieve long-term survival. This necessity underlines the need for developing measures that can estimate the current level of services provision, since measurement is the first step towards improvement. Measuring the existing level of servicesprovided can help managersmake better decisions for improving customer satisfaction.The purpose of the present study is to (a) measure the level of services provided by the Hellenic Post and (b) evaluate the satisfaction of its customers (citizens). The evaluation was made using an enhanced approach, incorporating both customers and managers in the sample of the study. Moreover, the present study investigated the gap between customer expectations and customer perceptionswith regard tothe level of the services offered by the Hellenic Post.The empirical study was undertakenusing two structured questionnaires; the first was targeted to customers (SERVQUAL modified instrument) and the second to managers of Hellenic Post branches. In total, 406 questionnaires were collected from customers (citizens) and 86 questionnaires from the managers of a correspondingnumber of Hellenic Post branches. Results showed that customers have a negative perception about the services offered by the Hellenic Post (in comparison with their expectations) and that there is a significant difference between the actual perceptions of customers and those of managers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]