Who speaks up at work? Dispositional influences on employees' voice behavior

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between the five‐factor model of personality (FFM) and employees' voice behavior in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

Employees' personality characteristics were assessed along with their voice behavior towards their supervisor and the top management of their company. Data were collected from a cross‐sectional sample of 334 professionals.

Findings

The findings demonstrate the relationship between personality and voice behavior towards the immediate supervisor, but not towards the top management of the company, and show that conscientiousness and emotional stability are the strongest predictors of employees' voice behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the study should be interpreted with caution, since they are based on self‐report measures. However, the findings suggest that two personality dimensions (emotional stability and conscientiousness) are significantly related with employees' voice behavior towards their supervisor.

Practical implications

The findings suggest important practical implications for HR practices, such as employee communication and personnel selection, since at least two personality dimensions are related with employees' voice behavior. The study also emphasizes the significance of first line supervisors' communication style in enhancing employees' voice behavior.

Originality/value

This is the first study exploring the relationship between the FFM and employees' voice behavior carried out in a EU‐country, such as Greece.

Citation

Nikolaou, I., Vakola, M. and Bourantas, D. (2008), "Who speaks up at work? Dispositional influences on employees' voice behavior", Personnel Review, Vol. 37 No. 6, pp. 666-679. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480810906892