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Is Relational Demography Relative? How Employment Status Influences Effects of Supervisor–Subordinate Demographic Similarity

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Abstract

Purpose

Because diversity is vital to many businesses, it is important to understand how demographic differences between individuals in the workplace influence employee behavior. In this study, we focused on demographic similarity (i.e., sex, racioethnicity) with one’s supervisor as a predictor of employee withdrawal. Further, we examined employees’ employment status (i.e., part-time vs. full-time) as a moderator of the similarity–withdrawal relationships.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Using two nationally representative U.S. surveys containing more than 2,000 combined respondents, we examined variability in employee withdrawal (i.e., tardiness, absenteeism, and intent to remain).

Findings

The results indicated that having a supervisor belonging to one’s racioethnic group has a greater impact on withdrawal among part-time than full-time employees. Racioethnic similarity corresponded in less tardiness and absence, and higher intent to remain for part-timers. Similarly, sex similarity corresponded in lower levels of absence for part-timers.

Implications

Employee withdrawal costs companies millions of dollars each fiscal year. If supervisor–subordinate dissimilarity corresponds in higher withdrawal among part-time employees, then it is imperative for researchers to determine how this might be remedied.

Originality/Value

Research utilizing relational demography theories has shed considerable light on our understanding of demographic differences in the workplace. A notable shortcoming of these frameworks, however, is their failure to fully consider boundary conditions influencing the potentially detrimental effects of demographic dissimilarity. We propose that the similarity effects described in previous research may vary as a function of employment status.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fox School of Business and Management, Temple University, 1801 Liacouras Walk, Alter Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Derek R. Avery & Sabrina D. Volpone

  2. School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 94 Rockafeller Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Patrick F. McKay

  3. Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Eden B. King

  4. Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware, 347 Smith Hall, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    David C. Wilson

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  1. Derek R. Avery
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  2. Sabrina D. Volpone
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Correspondence to Sabrina D. Volpone.

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Avery, D.R., Volpone, S.D., McKay, P.F. et al. Is Relational Demography Relative? How Employment Status Influences Effects of Supervisor–Subordinate Demographic Similarity. J Bus Psychol 27, 83–98 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-011-9230-9

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