Spanning the Boundaries of Work: Workplace Participation, Political Efficacy, and Political Involvement

Abstract

Based on the political spillover theory, this study examines the boundary-spanning aspect of workplace participation—the association between participation at work and in politics. A telephone survey was conducted using a regional probability sample. Results indicate that decision involvement at work is positively associated with political voting while work community participation is positively associated with involvement in local communities and political party and campaign activities. The study reveals that internal political efficacy mediates the relationship between job autonomy and political participation.

Keywords:

• Political Efficacy
• Political Participation
• Political Spillover Theory
• Work Community
• Workplace Democracy
• Workplace Participation

Notes

Note. Cell entries are zero-order correlations; numbers in parentheses are partial correlations, controlling for age, education, and income.

∗p < .05 (1-tailed), ∗∗p < .01 (1-tailed), ∗∗∗p < .001 (1-tailed).

Note. Cell entries are standardized coefficients and entries in parentheses are standard errors.

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

^a p = .057.

Note. Cell entries are standardized coefficients and entries in parentheses are standard errors.

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Guowei Jian

Guowei Jian (Ph.D., University of Colorado, 2003) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication at Cleveland State University. His research interests include organizational culture, work participation, and communication technologies at work.

Leo Jeffres

Leo W. Jeffres (Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1976) is a Professor in the School of Communication at Cleveland State University. He is the author of four books, including Urban Communication Systems (Hampton Press, 2002). His research interests include media effects, neighborhoods and urban communication systems, and communication technologies.