This study examines the impact of job stress on employee turnover intention in Bangladesh’s garments sector, integrating the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model to explore the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and the moderating role of work-life balance. Data were collected from 400 employees, and the proposed relationships were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that job stress significantly increases turnover intention, with emotional exhaustion partially mediating this relationship. In line with the JD-R model, job stress is considered a job demand that depletes emotional resources, leading to higher employee turnover. Furthermore, the study highlights the buffering role of work-life balance, which reduces emotional exhaustion and mitigates turnover intention. The findings underscore the importance of organizational interventions that address job stress as a high-demand factor while promoting work-life balance as a resource to enhance employee well-being and retention. Overall, this study provides new insights into the psychological mechanisms linking job stress to turnover intention and offers practical strategies to improve employee retention in Bangladesh’s high-pressure garment industry.
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