Agreeable Supervisors Promoting the Organization – Implications for Employee Commitment and Retention

Abstract. Through two studies, we examine the importance of supervisor promotion of the organization (SPO) for employee commitment and retention. Study 1 ( N = 910) found SPO to be distinguishable from supervisor’s organizational embodiment, perceived supervisor support, perceived organizational support, and supervisor vision and to interact with perceived supervisor agreeableness to predict employee affective commitment. Using time-lagged data, Study 2 ( N = 272) found SPO to be indirectly related to turnover via employee affective commitment and this relation to be stronger at high perceived supervisor agreeableness. These findings indicate that SPO can help reduce employee turnover but that organizations would be well advised to encourage supervisors to act agreeably with subordinates or hire and promote supervisors who do so.