Examining the Relationships Among Peer Resentment Messages Overheard, State Guilt, and Employees’ Perceived Ability to Use Work/Family Policies

Abstract

This study sought to determine if frequency of peer resentment messages overheard in organizational settings was associated with employees’ perceived ability to use work/family policies. Job burnout and state guilt were also included as potential predictors. In this sample of workers (N = 474), resentment messages, internalized guilt, and burnout were significantly and negatively associated with the likelihood of using work/family policies, accounting for 22% of the variance. An interaction effect was also discovered for burnout and resentment on perceived ability to use work/family policies. This study highlights the importance of understanding the messages embedded within an organization's culture and those messages’ impacts on individual decisions to make use of leave policies.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Laura Guerrero and two anonymous reviewers for their advice on earlier drafts of this article.

Notes

Note. Items were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale.

Note. All correlations significant at p < .001.

Note. All coefficients were significant at the p < .001 level.

*p = .033. **p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Justin P. Boren

Justin P. Boren, Department of Communication, Santa Clara University.

Shannon L. Johnson

Shannon L. Johnson, School of Communication Studies, James Madison University.