Relative Age, Supervisor Support and Perceived Work Group Inclusion: The Role of Core Self-Evaluations

ABSTRACT

Using data from a 2007 survey of employees, we investigated the effects of perceived supervisor age and work-group age composition on supervisor support and work-group inclusion, respectively. We found that employees with lower core self-evaluations reported higher supervisor support if they believed their supervisors were older than they were, but for employees with moderate or high levels of core self-evaluations, the perception of having an older supervisor was negatively associated with supervisor support. If the majority of the work group was older than the employee, the employee reported lower levels of inclusion.

KEYWORDS:

• Core self-evaluations
• older workers
• supervisor support
• work group inclusion
• younger workers

Funding

The research reported in this paper was supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Additional information

Funding

The research reported in this paper was supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Notes on contributors

Tay K. McNamara

Tay K. McNamara, PhD, is affiliated with the Sloan Center on Aging & Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA. Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, PhD, is affiliated with the Sloan Center on Aging & Work and the Graduate School of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA.