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1 – 10 of 27Liqian Yang, Qian Zhang, Hao Gong and Yanyuan Cheng
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between union practices and two types of employees’ extra-role behaviors, namely, union citizenship behavior (UCB) and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between union practices and two types of employees’ extra-role behaviors, namely, union citizenship behavior (UCB) and employee voice (EV), and the mechanisms that mediate this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Using matched data from 46 union leaders and 279 union members of 33 workplaces in China, this study utilized multilevel structural equation modeling to test the cross-level influences of union practices on employees’ extra-role behaviors and the mediation effects.
Findings
The results show that (1) union practices have a positive impact on employees’ UCB and EV, and (2) union practices increase UCB and EV through the improvement of industrial relations (IR) climate at the workplace level, as well as union commitment (UC) and union instrumentality (UI) at the individual level.
Research limitations/implications
Although the authors collected data from multi-sources (i.e. union leaders and members), the cross-sectional data of this study limited the ability to make casual inferences.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by providing theoretical explanation and empirical evidence to illustrate the role of union practices in increasing the extra-role behaviors of employees (i.e. UCB and EV). This is of particular importance in elaborating the effectiveness of enterprise unions under the recent reforms in China. In addition, the authors also unpacked the antecedents of extra-role behaviors in the union context by investigating how IR climate, UC and UI mediate the relationship between union practices and extra-role behaviors of employees.
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Chloé Fortin-Bergeron, Olivier Doucet and Marc-Antonin Hennebert
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the different mediating processes by which authentic leadership and transformational leadership on the part of local union representatives…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the different mediating processes by which authentic leadership and transformational leadership on the part of local union representatives influence members’ union citizenship behaviors (UCB) (i.e. UCBO and UCBI). Drawing from the social learning perspective, the authors suggest that authentic and transformational forms of leadership are associated with UCB through specific mechanisms i.e. member-representative value congruence and members’ collectivist orientation, respectively.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopts a cross-sectional design. Structural equation modeling and bootstrap analysis were used to test the hypotheses among 343 members of a Canadian union federation representing professionals in the education sector.
Findings
The results show that the influence of authentic leadership on UCB is explained through value congruence and the influence of transformational leadership is principally exerted through members’ collectivist orientation.
Practical implications
By enhancing the understanding of the behavioral manifestations of local union leadership and its influential mechanisms, this research offers interesting avenues for union organizations that wish to develop and implement leadership training programs at the local level.
Originality/value
Only a handful of studies have investigated the relational antecedents of UCB, such as leadership. This research thus contributes to the UCB literature by extending the spectrum of examined local union leaders’ behaviors.
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Hannes Velt and Rudolf R. Sinkovics
This chapter offers a comprehensive review the literature on authentic leadership (AL). The authors employ a bibliometric approach to identify, classify, visualise and synthesise…
Abstract
This chapter offers a comprehensive review the literature on authentic leadership (AL). The authors employ a bibliometric approach to identify, classify, visualise and synthesise relevant scholarly publications and the work of a core group of interdisciplinary scholars who are key contributors to the research on AL. They review 264 journal articles, adopting a clustering technique to assess the central themes of AL scholarship. They identify five distinct thematic clusters: authenticity in the context of leadership; structure of AL; social perspectives on AL; dynamism of AL; and value perceptions of AL. Velt and Sinkovics assert that these clusters will help scholars of AL to understand the dominant streams in the literature and provide a foundation for future research.
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Jack Fiorito, Irene Padavic and Zachary A. Russell
The question of why workers support unions is one of the most fundamental in employment relations. Using Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior we conduct a selective review of…
Abstract
The question of why workers support unions is one of the most fundamental in employment relations. Using Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior we conduct a selective review of literature and evidence on union voting, joining, and participation. We focus primarily on the question of motivation as stemming from self-interest or from pro-social considerations. Secondary attention is given to the influence of others’ views (subjective norms) and worker perceptions that they can achieve desired behaviors (perceived control or self-efficacy). We find support for the notion that workers are concerned with neither member self-interest (“just us”) alone, nor pro-social (“justice”) alone, but rather that they are motivated to form, join, and participate by both considerations. This micro-foundation for considering unions as institutions suggests that unions are neither narrow self-interested institutions nor purely pro-social movements, but “a little bit of both.” We offer propositions and consider implications for theory, practice, and future research.
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Enhua Hu, Maolong Zhang, Hongmei Shan, Long Zhang and Yaqing Yue
The purpose of this paper is to offer empirical evidence on whether and how the work experiences of employees in China influence their union-related attitudes and behaviours.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to offer empirical evidence on whether and how the work experiences of employees in China influence their union-related attitudes and behaviours.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors developed a mediated moderation model to examine how job satisfaction and labour relations climate interactively affect union participation and whether union commitment mediates the interactive effects. A total of 585 employees from enterprises in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi and Fujian province of China were surveyed to verify the model.
Findings
Job satisfaction was negatively related to union participation and union commitment. Labour relations climate moderated the relationship between job satisfaction and union participation; the relationship was negative and stronger when employees perceived an adverse, rather than a favourable, labour relations climate. Further, the interactive effect of job satisfaction and labour relations climate on union participation was partly mediated by union commitment.
Originality/value
By empirically examining employees’ attitudes and behaviours towards unions in the Chinese context, this study confirms that unions could provide employees with alternative work resources to cope with job dissatisfaction, even in a country where unions play a “transmission belt” role between employees and employers. This study adds value to the existing base of knowledge on union practice and labour relations construction, both inside and outside of China.
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Min Li, Wenyuan Huang, Chunyang Zhang and Zhengxi Yang
The purpose of this paper is to draw on triadic reciprocal determinism and social exchange theory to examine how “induced-type” and “compulsory-type” union participation influence…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to draw on triadic reciprocal determinism and social exchange theory to examine how “induced-type” and “compulsory-type” union participation influence union commitment and job involvement, and how union participation in the west differs from that in China. It also examines whether the role of both organizational justice and employee participation climate (EPC) functions in the Chinese context.
Design/methodology/approach
Cross-sectional data are collected from 694 employees in 46 non-publicly owned enterprises, both Chinese and foreign, in the Pearl River Delta region of China. A multi-level moderated mediation test is used to examine the model of this research.
Findings
Union participation is positively related to organizational justice, union commitment and job involvement. In addition, organizational justice acts as the mediator among union participation, union commitment and job involvement. Specifically, the mediating role of organizational justice between union participation and union commitment, and between union participation and job involvement, is stronger in high-EPC contexts than low-EPC contexts.
Originality/value
Instead of examining the impacts of attitudes on union participation, as per most studies in the western context, this research examines the impacts of union participation in the Chinese context on attitudes, including union commitment and job involvement. It also reveals the role of both organizational justice and EPC in the process through which union participation influences union commitment and job involvement.
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The aim of this paper is to give a critique of the extant literature on union commitment and participation in order to develop remedies to identified weaknesses
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to give a critique of the extant literature on union commitment and participation in order to develop remedies to identified weaknesses
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a critical assessment of extant literature.
Findings
A number of critical deficiencies exist in the literature to which remedies are proposed.
Research limitations/implications
The remedies need testing through empirical research.
Practical implications
Future research needs to have different research foci and questions.
Social implications
With a reorientation of future research on union commitment, participation and leadership, unions may be better able to benefit from academic research in the area.
Originality/value
The paper suggests that a reorientation of future research on union commitment, participation and leadership will allow more incisive and more robust contributions to be made to understanding unions as complex social organisms.
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Ed Snape and Andy W. Chan
This paper aims to evaluate the suggestion that the antecedents of union commitment and participation may differ between foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) and state-owned…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate the suggestion that the antecedents of union commitment and participation may differ between foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in China based on the view that SOE unions will focus more strongly on the traditional dual role, emphasising on managerial functions and employee welfare.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on employee surveys in two enterprises in Shanghai, one FIE and one SOE. Employee attitudes towards the union and enterprise were measured using a self-completion questionnaire, and data were analysed using structural equation modelling.
Findings
Findings suggest that pro-union attitudes were more salient in the FIE context. In contrast, SOE workers’ allegiance to the union appeared to be a less reflection of pro-union attitudes and was more narrowly instrumental.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that FIEs workers’ union allegiances are more likely to reflect a pro-union orientation, with SOE workers more likely to see their union allegiances in narrowly instrumental terms. In FIEs, with a profit-oriented and privately managed enterprise, union allegiances may be closer to those of Western market economies, whilst in SOEs, the “dual role” model persists, with unions a service provider rather than an independent employee representative.
Originality/value
The findings in this paper provide an initial test of the potential differences in the antecedents of union commitment and participation across FIEs and SOEs. Future research is needed to build on these findings, in particular, adopting multi-enterprise study designs across different enterprise types.
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Shih Yung Chou and Katelin Barron
The purpose of this article is twofold. First, this article attempts to classify employee voice behavior using three distinct dimensions of voice message embedded in employee…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is twofold. First, this article attempts to classify employee voice behavior using three distinct dimensions of voice message embedded in employee voice behavior: voice change beneficiary, voice change approach and voice change time orientation. Second, this article discusses the theoretical underpinning that can be used to best explain the antecedents of a certain form of employee voice behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical analysis was performed.
Findings
This article proposes that employee voice behavior can be classified into self-centered vs other-centered, improvement-focused vs prevention-focused and present-oriented vs future-oriented. Moreover, this article discusses how social exchange, personality traits and cultural perspectives help explain the antecedents of each of these forms of employee voice behavior.
Practical implications
First, this article recommends that managers should evaluate employee voice behavior based upon contexts in which the behavior is exhibited. Second, this article recommends that managers not only need to establish an environment where employee voice behavior is strongly encouraged, but also pay attention to reducing psychological and physical symptoms caused by speaking up for others. Finally, this article provides further managerial implications by highlighting that high-quality social exchange relationships can not only trigger employees’ desire to voice for themselves, but also motivate employees to voice for others.
Originality/value
This article is one of the few studies that attempt to classify employee voice behavior.
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Osman Seray Özkan, Seval Aksoy Kürü, Burcu Üzüm and Önder Ulu
The aim of this research, which uses the theories of social identity and social exchange, is to investigate the relationship between responsible leadership, prosocial behavior and…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this research, which uses the theories of social identity and social exchange, is to investigate the relationship between responsible leadership, prosocial behavior and the mediating role of psychological ownership in this relationship. In addition, the moderating role of ethical and social responsibility in the relationship between responsible leadership and psychological ownership is tested in the study.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample of the research consists of 246 participants who work full-time at İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport in ground handling services (GHS). The convenience sampling method was used in the research, and the research data were collected by the face-to-face survey method. The hypotheses of the research were tested with the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) and SPSS Process Macro.
Findings
According to the results, it was determined that responsible leadership affects prosocial behavior positively and significantly, and psychological ownership plays a mediating role in this relationship. In addition, the moderating effect of ethical and social responsibility on the relationship between responsible leadership and psychological ownership was determined. When ethical and social responsibility is perceived as high by the employees, it was revealed that the conditional indirect effect of responsible leadership on prosocial behavior through psychological ownership was strong.
Research limitations/implications
When responsible leadership encourages employees to take psychological ownership, they are more likely to engage in prosocial behavior. This study contributes to the field by evaluating the structures discussed with social identity and social exchange theory. In the management practice of organizations, responsible leadership should be strengthened and training should be given to develop responsible leadership.
Originality/value
In the literature review, it was observed that although there are studies conducted with responsible leadership, the concept was not examined with prosocial behavior, and it was not studied in the aviation sector, which has become indispensable for the world economy. With these features, the study distinguishes itself from others and constitutes a source of motivation for researchers.
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