Managerial support: Renewing the role of managers amidst declining union support for employees

Abstract

This study investigates how Australian employees perceive managerial support and the influence of union membership on their perception of managerial support using data from 4124 employed persons in Australia across a range of industry sectors. The results indicate that employee perceptions of the work environment (control over working hours, job security, pay equity and safety) influence their perceptions of managerial support, regardless of union membership. The findings imply that managers have a critical role to play in supporting the needs of employees, particularly as organizations confront the challenges posed by aging workforces, growing skill shortages and an increasingly diverse and mobile workforce. This article addresses the call for organizations to provide more support to their employees from governments and management scholars. It also addresses the issue of managers taking on greater prerogative as employee advocates in the light of declining union influence.