How empowering leadership reduces employee silence in public organizations

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Hassan, Shahidul; DeHart-Davis, Leisha; Jiang, Zhongnan
• 署名单位: University System of Ohio; Ohio State University; University of North Carolina; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; University of North Carolina School of Medicine
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3298
• DOI: 10.1111/padm.12571
• 发表日期: 2019
• 页码: 116-131
• 关键词: GROUP ENGAGEMENT MODEL; procedural justice; social identity; VOICE; BEHAVIOR; issues; work; speaking; scale; trust

摘要

The intentional withholding of critical work-related information can have serious negative consequences in public organizations. Yet, few studies have examined why public employees intentionally remain silent about problems and how to prevent such behaviour. This article provides insights into how managers may lower employee silence in government organizations. We develop a model that suggests that empowering leadership by frontline supervisors reduces public employee silence, by improving employee trust in their supervisors, granting employees control over their jobs, and strengthening identification with the organization. We test the model in two cross-sectional studies with data collected from all employees working in two local governments in the United States. We find empirical support for the model in both studies. We discuss the implications of the research results for public management scholarship and practice.