Low-wage workers such as certified nursing aides and housekeepers are more likely to remain in their jobs if they feel their managers are loyal. So finds a study of turnover at 22 long-term care facilities.

Over an 18-month period, 45% of workers surveyed at a chain of skilled nursing, assisted living and hospice providers left their positions.

Those who left reported a similar job satisfaction rating as those who stayed. But asked about four dimensions of “Leader-Member Exchange” theory — affect, loyalty, respect and willingness to contribute to goals — those who felt their supervisors were loyal to them were more likely to have stayed.

Lead author Michael Matthews, Ph.D., associate professor of healthcare management at Winthrop University, said. Career-minded RNs might emphasize task-related exchanges in the interest of advancement, while lower-wage earners could face more personal stress and need a manager who is “looking out for their best interests.”

“Managers, especially caregiver managers, should pay attention to the types of relationships they are developing with subordinates,” he wrote.