A Conceptual Model of the Human Resource Climate Dimensions that Influence the Development of Workplace Relationships

Abstract

Despite the ubiquity of the phenomenon of workplace friendships (WFs), the antecedents to the development of such relationships as manifested in an organisation’s human resource management (HRM) climate remain relatively unexplored. Indeed a great deal of investment has been made to evaluate perceptual and behavioural responses of job incumbents in work arrangements, but the notion of HRM climate dimensions providing the platform for the opportunity and development of WFs has yet to be entertained. This paper explores the concept of HRM climate dimensions which includes employee welfare, level of participation, job autonomy, interdepartmental and cross hierarchical integration, level of supervisory support, and sophistication of training programmes, as antecedents to the opportunity and prevalence of WFs. The conceptual model will facilitate HRM practitioners and theorists in the understanding of HRM climate dimensions as powerful determinants in the opportunity for and development of workplace friendships.