Pay It Forward: The Positive Crossover Effects of Supervisor Work—Family Enrichment

Abstract

This research examines the crossover effect of supervisors’ work—family enrichment on subordinates’ work—family enrichment and job performance. Drawing on broaden and build theory and Westman’s crossover work, the authors posit that supervisors’ work—family enrichment leads to the creation of a family-friendly work environment, which in turn promotes subordinate work-to-family enrichment and subsequent performance. Subordinate perceptions of schedule control and family-supportive organization are used to operationalize a family-friendly work environment because immediate supervisors are frequently key gatekeepers in setting these organizational practices within a work unit. The authors test hypotheses based on this model using a sample of 161 subordinates and their immediate supervisors (N = 48) and find that work-to-family enrichment crosses over from the supervisor to the subordinate through the subordinate’s perceptions of greater schedule control. Crossover effects were not detected for family-to-work enrichment. Furthermore, this study substantiates the impact of the subordinate’s work-to-family enrichment on job performance as rated by the supervisor and the job incumbent.