Building a caring workplace: how managerial caring and perceived insider status shape subjective employee well-being

PurposeAlthough the study of factors that promote employee well-being is not a new research area, the impact of managerial caring and perceived insider status on subjective employee well-being is a relatively new and unexplored area within the management literature. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between managerial caring and subjective employee well-being while considering the mediating effect of perceived insider status. Based on social identity theory, the study hypothesized that perceived insider status mediates the link between managerial caring and subjective employee well-being.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyzed data from 193 employees working across various industries in the United Arab Emirates using Process Macro Model 4.FindingsThe findings revealed a positive relationship between managerial caring and employee well-being, which was influenced by the mediating effect of perceived insider status.Originality/valueThe study’s results, which shed light on the process by which managerial caring positively affects employee well-being, provide valuable insights for developing a caring workplace. The findings make a significant contribution to the literature on managerial caring by explaining how the mediating role of perceived insider status influences the relationship between managerial caring and subjective employee well-being.