Workplace Social Capital: Redefining and Measuring the Construct

Abstract

Although workplace social capital (WSC) is a relevant construct that contributes positively to employee and organizational wellness, there is lack of consensus regarding its definition and measurement. The aim of this paper was to synthesize a valid definition of WSC and develop an instrument measuring the construct. Based on a literature review of existing definitions (Phase 1), we conceptualized WSC as a workplace resource that concerns employees’ perceptions regarding trust, reciprocity (cognitive WSC), and network interactions (structural WSC) that exist among peers (bonding WSC) and among individuals across hierarchical levels and organizations (bridging WSC). Next, we developed the WSC Inventory (WoSCi; Phase 2) and, we tested the psychometric properties of the new scale (Phase 3). The initial structure of the scale was explored in a sample of university employees (N = 376). Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis in a heterogeneous sample of 733 employees nested in 158 work groups supported the hypothesized factor structure of the WoSCi. Results also supported the internal consistency, as well as the convergent, criterion-related and incremental validity of the WoSCi in explaining work engagement, burnout, job performance over and above similar constructs, such as individual social capital and psychological capital. These results highlight the relevance of WSC as defined and measured with the WoSCi and underline its value for explaining work-related well-being and organizational behavior.