A value based perspective on commitment in the workplace: An examination of Schwartz's basic human values theory among bank employees in Israel

Abstract

Abstract There has been a growing trend recently to examine individual-level values in order to better understand attitudes and behaviors of employees in the workplace. This paper continues this trend by examining the relationship between individual-level values, using Schwartz's basic human values theory, and six workplace commitment forms (organizational, occupational, group, work, job, union). It also examines whether individual values relate to commitment forms when controlling for demographic variables and justice perceptions. The sample includes 424 employees of one of the major banks in Israel. The findings show strong relationships between age and justice and commitment forms. However, they also show that individual values relate to commitment forms above and beyond the effect of the demographic and justice variables. In particular, the results show consistent positive relationships between benevolence and achievement, on the one hand, and most of the commitment forms on the other. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for future research on the relationships between individual values and commitment in the workplace.