What concept suggests that an employee's behaviour is influenced by their feelings of obligation to stay with the organization?

The concept that suggests an employee's behavior is influenced by their feelings of obligation to stay with the organization is known as normative commitment. Normative commitment is characterized by a sense of duty or moral obligation that employees feel towards their organization, which can be influenced by factors such as organizational culture, social norms, or personal values that dictate loyalty.

When employees experience normative commitment, they often feel that they should remain with the organization, not merely because they want to (as in affective commitment) or because they need to (as in continuance commitment), but because they believe it is the right thing to do. This sense of obligation can enhance employee motivation, as individuals may be more likely to perform well and contribute positively when they feel a strong obligation to their employer.

In contrast, affective commitment relates more to an emotional attachment to the organization, while continuance commitment focuses on the perceived costs of leaving the organization. Voluntary commitment, while related to personal choice and desire to stay, is not a formally recognized category in commitment theory. Thus, normative commitment distinctly emphasizes obligation as a driving force in an employee's decision to remain engaged with their organization.