Pay It Forward: The Positive Crossover Effects of Supervisor Work-Family Enrichment Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • This research examines the crossover effect of supervisors workfamily enrichment on subordinates workfamily enrichment and job performance. Drawing on broaden and build theory and Westmans crossover work, the authors posit that supervisors workfamily enrichment leads to the creation of a family-friendly work environment, which in turn promotes subordinate work-to-family enrichment and subsequent performance. Subordinate perceptions of schedule control and family-supportive organization are used to operationalize a family-friendly work environment because immediate supervisors are frequently key gatekeepers in setting these organizational practices within a work unit. The authors test hypotheses based on this model using a sample of 161 subordinates and their immediate supervisors (N = 48) and find that work-to-family enrichment crosses over from the supervisor to the subordinate through the subordinates perceptions of greater schedule control. Crossover effects were not detected for family-to-work enrichment. Furthermore, this study substantiates the impact of the subordinates work-to-family enrichment on job performance as rated by the supervisor and the job incumbent.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT

author list (cited authors)

  • Carlson, D. S., Ferguson, M., Kacmar, K. M., Grzywacz, J. G., & Whitten, D.

citation count

  • 93

complete list of authors

  • Carlson, Dawn S||Ferguson, Merideth||Kacmar, K Michele||Grzywacz, Joseph G||Whitten, Dwayne

publication date

  • May 2011