Racial Differences on Organizational Attachment?

Abstract

This study examines and explains differences between White and Black employees in organizational attachment. Previous studies on racial inequality assumed that the relative failure of Black employees in the labor market is partially related to their work habits and lower organizational attachment. This study, following the structural theory of the labor market, suggests that any racial difference in organizational attachment is explained by the structural features of jobs held by racial groups rather than by race or other variables identified in the culture of poverty or human capital theories. Using 1991 General Social Survey data, the findings are strongly consistent with the structural explanation of organizational attachment; the difference of average organizational attachment between Black and White employees is minor but significant. However, race displays a nonsignificant coefficient with organizational attachment when the structural features of jobs were kept constant. Concluding remarks on the theoretical significance of the findings and their implication in policy/practice are given.