Readiness for change, Trust in leadership and Turnover intentions in Times of Reform: Qualitative insights from Moroccan healthcare professionals

Résumé

This research seeks to examine the change from the professionals’ perspectives, to shed light on their readiness for it, their trust in leadership and the extent to which the current reform affects their intentions to leave, in a department struggling with turnover. Adopting a qualitative exploratory design, data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 healthcare professionals representing various organizational layers. Findings indicate that change was associated with negative emotions, even though its legitimacy was unanimously recognized. Individuals reported a prevailing sense of uncertainty, an unwillingness to engage with the change and expressed a low readiness to embrace it. Poor communication emerged as a major factor intensifying professionals’ stress and explaining low levels of trust toward the hierarchy. This situation did not significantly increase turnover intentions among professionals who were not previously considering leaving. However, it did prompt those who had been postponing their departure to consider leaving soon.