Share:


Employability, proactiveness and workplace behaviors: is socioeconomic status a mediator?

    Carmen Păunescu Affiliation
    ; Carmen Acatrinei Affiliation
    ; Ruxandra Argatu Affiliation
    ; Stephen J. J. McGuire Affiliation
    ; Yang Zhang Affiliation

Abstract

The paper aims to examine individuals’ behavior at work and/or in college, by placing the focus on employability, proactiveness and socioeconomic status as predictors. The paper’s objectives are threefold: (1) to examine if there is a causal relationship between employability and proactive personality of individuals and their citizenship or deviant behavior at work and/or in college; (2) to understand the extent to which socioeconomic status influences individuals’ citizenship or deviant behavior at work and/or in college; and (3) to determine the mediation role of socioeconomic status in the causal relationship between employability and proactiveness and individuals’ behaviors. Linear regression models were employed to test the predictive power of the variables once a causal relationship had been confirmed. Mediation tests were used to quantify the extent to which a variable participated in known causal relationships. The research reports results based on data collected from 534 university business students in Romania. The results confirm that employability and proactiveness predict workplace behavior, and that socioeconomic status mediates this relationship.

Keyword : organizational citizenship behavior, deviant workplace behavior, socioeconomic status, employability, proactive personality, mediation test

How to Cite
Păunescu, C., Acatrinei, C., Argatu, R., McGuire, S. J. J., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Employability, proactiveness and workplace behaviors: is socioeconomic status a mediator?. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 25(1), 47–65. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2024.20745
Published in Issue
Jan 26, 2024
Abstract Views
676
PDF Downloads
659
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Arshad, M., Abid, G., Contreras, F., Elahi, N. S., & Athar, M. A. (2021). Impact of prosocial motivation on organizational citizenship behavior and organizational commitment: The mediating role of managerial support. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 11(2), 436–449. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe11020032

Battistelli, A., Galletta, M., Portoghese, I., Pohl, S., & Odoardi, C. (2013). Promoting organizational citizenship behaviors: The mediating role of intrinsic work motivation. Le Travail Humain, 76(3), 205–226. https://doi.org/10.3917/th.763.0205

Braje, I. N., Aleksić, A., & Jelavic, S. R. (2020). Blame it on individual or organization environment: What predicts workplace deviance more? Social Sciences, 9(6), Article 99. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci9060099

Buchanan, D., & Huczynski, A. (2010). Organizational behavior (7th ed.). Pearson Education.

Callea, A., Caracuzzo, E., Costanzi, M., & Urbini, F. (2022). Promoting flow at work through proactive personality: A sequential mediation model with evidence from Italian employees. Sustainability, 14(5), Article 2477. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052477

Chadha, D., & Toner, J. (2017). Focusing in on employability: Using content analysis to explore the employability discourse in UK and USA universities. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 14, Article 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-017-0071-0

Chen, P., Bao, C., & Gao, Q. (2021). Proactive personality and academic engagement: The mediating effects of teacher-student relationships and academic self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 652994. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.652994

DeNavas-Walt, C., Proctor, B. D., & Smith, J. C. (2014). Income and poverty in the United States: 2013. US Census Bureau.

Dessler, G. (2014). Human resource management (14th ed.). Pearson Education.

Du-Babcock, B. (2016) Bridging the gap from classroom-based learning to experiential professional learning: A Hong Kong case. Dinamika Ilmu, 16(2), 181–199. https://doi.org/10.21093/di.v16i2.527

Duncan, G. J., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (1997). Consequences of growing up poor. Russel Sage Foundation.

Gan, Y., & Cheung, F. M. (2010). From proactive personality to organizational citizenship behavior: Mediating role of harmony. Psychological Reports, 106(3), 755–765. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.106.3.755-765

Greenberg, J., & Baron, R. A. (2007). Behavior in organization (9th ed.). Pearson College Div.

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2021). Moderation analysis. In Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using R (pp. 155–172). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7_8

Harry, T., Chinyamurindi, W. T., & Mjoli, T. (2018). Perceptions of factors that affect employability amongst a sample of final-year students at a rural South African university. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 44, Article a1510. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v44i0.1510

Harter, J. K., Schmidt, F. L., & Keyes, C. L. (2003). Well-being in the workplace and its relationship to business outcomes: A review of the Gallup studies. In C. L. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: The positive person and the good life (pp. 205–224). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10594-009

Harvey, J. F., & Green, P. (2022) Constructive feedback: When leader agreeableness stifles team reflexivity. Personality and Individual Differences, 194, Article 111624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2022.111624

Hermawan, H., Thamrin, H. M., & Susilo, P. (2020). Organizational citizenship behavior and performance: The role of employee engagement. Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 7(12), 1089–1097. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2020.vol7.no12.1089

Heslin, P. A., Vandewalle, D., & Latham, G. P. (2006). Keen to help? Managers’ implicit person theories and their subsequent employee coaching. Personnel Psychology, 59(4), 871–902. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2006.00057.x

Hsieh, H.-H., & Huang, J.-T. (2014). The effects of socioeconomic status and proactive personality on career decision self-efficacy. The Career Development Quarterly, 62(1), 29–43. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2014.00068.x

Hua, J., Zhang, G., Coco, C., Zhao, T., & Hou, N. (2020). Proactive personality and cross-cultural adjustment: The mediating role of adjustment self-efficacy. Journal of International Students, 10(4), 817–835. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v10i4.1274

Imam, H., & Chambel, M. J. (2020). Productivity or illusion? Assessing employees’ behavior in an employability paradox. Employee Relations, 42(6), 1271–1289. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-11-2019-0446

Jencks, C., & Mayer, S. (1990). The social consequences of growing up in a poor neighborhood. In L. E. Lynn, & M. F. H. McGeary (Eds.), Inner-city poverty in the United States (pp. 111–186). National Academy Press.

Kayani, M., Alasan, I. I., Ali, W., & Hassan, S. (2021). Employees working behavior under different shades of destructive leadership. Studies of Applied Economics, 39(10), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.25115/eea.v39i10.5821

Kelloway, E. K., Hurrell, J. J., Jr., & Day, A. (2008). Workplace interventions for occupational stress. In K. Näswall, J. Hellgren, & M. Sverke (Eds.), The individual in the changing working life (pp. 419–441). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511490064.020

Khalili, A. (2017). Transformational leadership and organizational citizenship behavior: The moderating role of emotional intelligence. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 38(7), 1004–1015. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-11-2016-0269

Kim, Y. M., & Cho, S. I. (2020). Socioeconomic status, work-life conflict, and mental health. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 63(8), 703–712. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23118

Knez, I., Hjärpe, D., & Bryngelsson, M. (2019). Predicting organizational citizenship behavior: The role of work-related self. SAGE Open, 9(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019854834

Kornelakis, A., & Petrakaki, D. (2020). Embedding employability skills in UK higher education: Between digitalization and marketization. Industry and Higher Education, 34(5), 290–297. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422220902978

Kraus, M. W., Piff, P. K., & Keltner, D. (2009). Social class, sense of control, and social explanation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97(6), 992–1004. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016357

Kwentoh, W. N., Joe-Akunne, C. O., & Anazor, C. S. (2020). Job burnout and personality as predictors of workplace deviance. International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 4(3), 454–458.

Lee, K., & Allen, N. J. (2002). Organizational citizenship behavior and workplace deviance: The role of affect and cognitions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(1), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.1.131

Li, N., Liang, J., & Crant, J. M. (2010). The role of proactive personality in job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior: A relational perspective. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(2), 395–404. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018079

Li, W., Gill, S. A., Wang, Y., Safdar, M. A., & Sheikh, M. R. (2022). Proactive personality and innovative work behavior: Through the juxtapose of Schumpeter’s theory of innovation and broaden-and-build theory. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 927458. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.927458

Liao, P.-Y. (2021). Linking proactive personality to well-being: The mediating role of person-environment fit. SAGE Open, 11(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211040118

Liguori, E. W., McLarty, B. D., & Muldoon, J. (2013). The moderating effect of perceived job characteristics on the proactive personality-organizational citizenship behavior relationship. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 34(8), 724–740. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-01-2012-0014

Lin, S.-H., Lu, W.-C., Chen, Y.-C., & Wu, M.-H. (2022). The relationships among proactive personality, work engagement, and perceived work competence in sports coaches: The moderating role of perceived supervisor support. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), Article 12707. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912707

López-Domínguez, M., Enache, M., Sallan, J. M., & Simo, P. (2013). Transformational leadership as an antecedent of change-oriented organizational citizenship behavior. Journal of Business Research, 66(10), 2147–2152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.02.041

Ma, E., Wang, Y. C., Xu, S. T., & Wang, D. (2022). Clarifying the multi-order multidimensional structure of organizational citizenship behavior: A cross-cultural validation. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 50, 83–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2021.12.008

Marica, D.-F. (2018). The contribution of work engagement over proactive personality and proactive work behavior. Studia Doctoralia. Psychology and Educational Science, 9(2), 106–115. https://doi.org/10.47040/sd0000063

Mayers, A. (2013). Introduction to statistics and SPSS in psychology. Pearson Education Limited.

Mosadeghrad, A. M. (2013). Quality of working life: An antecedent to employee turnover intention. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 1(1), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2013.07

Näswall, K., Baraldi, S., Richter, A., Hellgren, J., & Sverke, M. (2006). The salaried employee in the modern working life: Threats and challenges (SALSTA – joint programme for working life research in Europe). Elanders Gotab.

Organ, D. W., Podsakoff, P. M., & MacKenzie, S. B. (2006). Organizational citizenship behavior: It’s nature, antecedents, and consequences. SAGE Publications Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452231082

Parker, S. K., Williams, H. M., & Turner, N. (2006). Modelling the antecedents of proactive behavior at work. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(3), 636–652. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.3.636

Philippaers, K., De Cuyper, N., & Forrier, A. (2019). Employability and performance: The role of perceived control and affective organizational commitment. Personnel Review, 48(5), 1299–1317. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-04-2017-0098

Pletzer, J. L., Oostrom, J. K., & Voelpel, S. C. (2022). Age and workplace deviance: A meta-analytic test and a trait-based examination of why older employees engage in less workplace deviance. Work, Aging and Retirement, 9(2), 153–168. https://doi.org/10.1093/workar/waab033

Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J. Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879–903. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879

Raza, B., St-Onge, S., & Ahmed, A. (2022). A scoping review and qualitative investigations to develop a workplace deviance typology. Deviant Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2022.2106908

Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2016). Organizational behavior (17th ed.). Pearson Education.

Robinson, S. L., & Bennett, R. J. (1995). A typology of deviant workplace behaviors: A multidimensional scaling study. Academy of Management Journal, 38(2), 555–572.

Römgens, I., Scoupe, R., & Beausaert, S. (2020). Unravelling the concept of employability, bringing together research on employability in higher education and the workplace. Studies in Higher Education, 45(12), 2588–2603. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1623770

Sauli, F., Wenger, M., & Fiori, M. (2022). Emotional competences in vocational education and training: State of the art and guidelines for interventions. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 14, Article 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-022-00132-8

Schettino, G., Marino, L., & Capone, V. (2022). The impact of university-related variables on students’ perceived employability and mental well-being: An Italian longitudinal study. Sustainability, 14(5), Article 2671. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052671

Serim, H., Demirbağ, O, & Yozgat, U. (2014). The effects of employees’ perceptions of competency models on employability outcomes and organizational citizenship behavior and the moderating role of social exchange in this effect. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 150, 1101–1110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.09.125

Smith, C. A., Organ, D. W., & Near, J. P. (1983). Organizational citizenship behavior: Its nature and antecedents. Journal of Applied Psychology, 68(4), 653–663. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.68.4.653

Tong, M., & Gao, T. (2022). For sustainable career development: Framework and assessment of the employability of business English graduates. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 847247. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.847247

Treviño, L. K., Weaver, G. R., & Reynolds, S. J. (2006). Behavioral ethics in organizations: A review. Journal of Management, 32(6), 951–990. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206306294258

Van den Broeck, A., Vansteenkiste, M., De Witte, H., & Lens, W. (2008). Explaining the relationships between job characteristics, burnout, and engagement: The role of basic psychological need satisfaction. Work & Stress, 22(3), 277–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678370802393672

Vázquez-Rodríguez, P., Romero-Castro, N., & Pérez-Pico, A. M. (2021). To engage or not to engage in organizational citizenship behavior: That is the question! Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 34(1), 2506–2521. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2020.1833743

Verghese, A. (2020). Organizational citizenship behaviors – antecedents, outcomes & paradoxes: A literature review. Ushus Journal of Business Management, 19(4), 27–37. https://doi.org/10.12725/ujbm.53.3

Wang, S.-P., Chen, M.-S., & Li, M.-J. (2018). Key factors affecting deviant workplace behavior. African Journal of Business Management, 12(10), 258–266. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJBM2018.8491

Wright, T. A., & Bonnet, D. G. (2007). Job satisfaction and psychological well-being as nonadditive predictors of workplace turnover. Journal of Management, 33(2), 141–160. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206306297582

Wu, C.-H., Deng, H., & Li, Y. (2018). Enhancing a sense of competence at work by engaging in proactive behavior: The role of proactive personality. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19, 801–816. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9827-9

Yaakobi, E., & Weisberg, J. (2020). Organizational citizenship behavior predicts quality, creativity, and efficiency performance: The roles of occupational and collective efficacies. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 758. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00758

Yıldız, B., & Alpkan, L. (2015). A Theoretical model on the proposed predictors of destructive deviant workplace behaviors and the mediator role of alienation. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 210, 330–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.11.373

Zelga, K. (2017). The importance of competition and enterprise competitiveness. World Scientific News, 72, 301–306.

Zhang, Y., Gorosnikova, T., McGuire, S. J. J., Păunescu, C., Perusquía, J., Tang, R., & Kwong, K. (2023). Status, wellbeing, and behavior at work or in college. Journal of Business and Economic Studies, 27(1), 36–68.