LEADER-MEMBER EXCHANGE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Abstract

People with disabilities (PWD) view the issue of employment as one of endless concern as they are continuously evaluated based on their disability per se. It is reported that that PWDs have to face challenges in finding jobs that suit their capability but they usually eventually quit from their job after struggling with the challenges that come with it. The increasing trend of a high employment turnover among disabled employees in Malaysia has spurred the direction in this study toward examining the concept of leader-member exchange (LMX) which examines the quality of supervisor-subordinate relationships. This study is important because it will bring new insights on how managers can integrate PWDs at the workplace by enhancing their social exchange relationship (dyadic), especially their leadership skills. It was discovered that all components of LMX namely affect, professional respect, contribution and loyalty are all important factors that ensure a good relationship between supervisors and PWDs.  In addition, it was found that types of disabilities and PWD working sectors has no mean difference toward the LMX components that influence this dyadic relationship.