Hierarchical Differences in Supervisor Support and Coworker Support

Abstract

Reference [1]stated that when supervisors act as agents of the organization, then employees develop global views concerning the degree to which supervisors value their contributions and care about their well-being. Reference [2] indicated that strength of influence on the perceived organizational support (POS), follows to the status of supervisors. Reference [3] reported coworkers' influence on POS through social networking. However, there are few studies on PSS according to hierarchy and PCS. This study investigated the strength of employees' perceptions of support from coworker and from supervisors, and the correlation between perceived coworker support, supervisor support with affective commitment, and citizenship behavior. Research subjects included are 83 technical employees working in two factories belonging in a steel manufacturing group located in the region in Japan. We analyzed the data using regression analysis and covariance structure analysis. We found that (1) perceived support from coworkers had greater influence than that from the factory manager and immediate supervisors. (2) Perceived support from upper manager influence more than that from the factory manager and immediate supervisors. (3) Affective commitment (AC) mediated between perceived coworkers and supervisor support and citizenship behavior. The study suggested that the perceived support of coworkers and upper managers has a strong influence on employees.