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This study aims to examine protean career attitude (PCA) and proactive work-behavior (PWB) conceptually and empirically by assessing the mediating role of leader-member exchange (LMX) in the context of 21st-century organizational challenges and transitions. The interaction of three theories underpinned the research framework. The theoretical model is based on LMX theory, career motivation theory (CMT) and self- determination theory (SDT) to investigate the implications of the banking sector.

Research methodology is based on quantitative and deductive research approaches. The quantitative survey was conducted with a sample size of 325 banking sector employees. The SEM technique was used with SmartPLS software to test the direct and indirect effects of the proposed hypothesis.

The empirical analysis revealed that PCA fosters LMX. The results indicate an indirect effect between PCA and PWB. LMX completely mediates the relationship between PCA and PWB. Conceptually, it is proven that in the 21st century, the traditional career management approach is a big challenge for managers and organizations.

This study holds implications for HR managers, CEOs, institutional employers and HRD practitioners in the context of 21st-century organizational challenges and transitions to understand the phenomenon of PCA instead of a traditional career approach. This study will help managers link their retention strategy with consequence factors, i.e. LMX and PWB.

This study will help to bridge the gap between the literature on PCA, PWB and LMX. It provides managers with a conceptual understanding of the phenomenon of the LMX construct with empirical evidence. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this would be the first study conducted in the context of the banking industry in Pakistan and an empirical and theoretical attempt to correlate PCA and PWB with LMX to get a high banking employee retention rate. More interestingly, the study is theoretically underpinned by CMT, LMX theory and SDT.