the Pivotal Roles of Resources, Justice, and Endorsement on Upward Influence in the Workplace

• In Event: Social Psychology Section Open Call Paper Session

Abstract

Influence attempts by workers toward their supervisors are commonplace in organizations. A subordinate may rally with their peers to advocate for new work procedures. A middle manager may go above their supervisor to complain about not receiving a promotion they feel they deserve. Upward influence attempts refer to conscious moves or strategies by subordinates designed to influence a superior’s beliefs or behavior. We extend previous research that examines the antecedents of upward influence by considering how resources, forms of justice, and endorsement of the authority impact four common tactics: (1) setting up a meeting to discuss an issue with the authority; (2) forming a coalition with peers to address the authority’s behavior; (3) complaining upward above the authority to their superior; and (4) forming a coalition with peers and complaining upward. We use data from a survey of employed adults (N=2062), representing a cross-section of the demographics of the U.S. Study participants answered questions about authorities’ provision of resources to self and coworkers; the social exchange of favors between authority and worker; respect and dignity conveyed by authorities’ treatment of workers; authorities’ provision of honest and timely explanations for decisions; coworkers’ support and approval of the authority; and frequency of upward influence attempts, via various tactics, with their supervisors. Findings show that access to resources, through allocation by the authority, and less frequently through exchange of favors, provides workers with the ability to use the more complex and costly tactics of coalition formation, complaining up, and forming a coalition to complain up. Yet use of tactics depends on interpersonal relationships as well, with managerial fair treatment and information provision decreasing the use of tactics to address an authority’s behavior. The endorsement of the authority enhances the effects of resource provision on use of tactics while interactional justice dampens such use.

Authors

• Cathryn Jean Johnson, Emory University

• Karen A. Hegtvedt, Emory University

• Ryan Gibson, University of New Hampshire

• Kate Hawks, New York University