Moderating role of LMX and proactive coping in the relationship between learning value of the job and employability enhancement among academic staff employees

Beatrice Van Der Heijden,Daniel Spurk

doi:10.1108/cdi-09-2018-0246

Beatrice Van Der Heijden, Daniel Spurk

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1108/cdi-09-2018-0246

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Abstract

PurposeBuilding upon a competence-based employability model and a social exchange and proactive perspective, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between learning value of the job and employability among academic staff employees. Moreover, this study also examined whether this relationship was moderated by leader–member exchange (LMX) and a proactive coping style.Design/methodology/approachAn online self-report questionnaire with thoroughly validated measures was distributed among academic staff employees (n=139).FindingsThe results partially supported the specific study assumptions. Concrete, learning value of the job was positively related to anticipation and optimization, corporate sense and balance. LMX moderated the relationship between learning value of the job, on the one hand, and all employability dimensions, on the other hand. However, proactive coping only moderated the relationship with anticipation and optimization, flexibility and balance. In all cases, under the condition of high moderator variable levels, the relationship became stronger.Originality/valueThis study extends past employability research by applying an interactionist perspective (person: proactive coping style, context: LMX and learning value of the job) approach for explaining employability enhancement. The results of this scholarly work provide useful insights for stimulating future career development and growth, which is of upmost importance in nowadays’ labor markets.

Highlights

Self-perceived employability, known as career potential (Van der Heijde and Van der Heijden, 2006), is at the core of a positive process that leads to optimal employee functioning (Vanhercke et al, 2014)
Given the key role the immediate supervisor can play in shaping the employees’ evaluations of HRM practices (Kuvaas and Dysvik, 2010), we argue that leader–member exchange (LMX) may moderate the impact of the employee’s learning value of the job on his/her employability
Preliminary analyses To test the factorial distinctiveness of the predictor, moderator and outcome variables, we conducted CFAs to compare the theoretically assumed measurement structure with a one-factor model, wherein all items load on one latent first-order factor

Summary

Introduction

Self-perceived employability, known as career potential (Van der Heijde and Van der Heijden, 2006), is at the core of a positive process that leads to optimal employee functioning (Vanhercke et al, 2014). Protecting one’s life-long employability comprises a key. © Beatrice Van der Heijden and Daniel Spurk. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode

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