To Leave or to Stay? Research on the Double-Edged Sword Effect of Illegitimate Tasks on Employee Turnover Intention

<b>Purpose:</b> This study explores the double-edged sword impact of illegitimate tasks on turnover intention and how this influence is manifested. <b>Design/methodology/approach:</b> Multisource data were collected from employees in different industries in South China at two points in time. The hypotheses were tested with hierarchical multiple regression analysis in combination with PROCESS macro-based bootstrapping. <b>Findings:</b> Illegitimate tasks can both weaken employees' turnover intention by triggering challenge stressor appraisal and enhance employees' turnover intention by triggering hindrance stressor appraisal. The research results confirm the double-edged sword effect of illegitimate tasks on employees' turnover intention. <b>Practical implications:</b> To mitigate employees' turnover intention and reduce turnover rates, organizational managers need to pay attention to the negative impact of illegitimate tasks and be concerned about employees' subjective cognition of these tasks. Additionally, organizations must optimize work design to reduce unnecessary tasks and assign unreasonable tasks to suitable employees. <b>Originality/value:</b> Based on the cognitive appraisal theory of stress, this study constructs a double-edged sword effect model. The results show that illegitimate tasks not only have negative impacts on employee turnover intention but also have potential positive impacts through two mediating pathways: challenge stressor appraisal and hindrance stressor appraisal. The research results indicate that illegitimate tasks have both a dark side and a bright side.