The study also shows a significant difference between African Americans and Whites in job satisfaction and organizational commitment, with African Americans reporting lower levels of both.
African Americans place a high value on interpersonal relationships with supervisors and co-workers, which greatly impact both job satisfaction and employee commitment, the researchers say. This is consistent with prior research that shows that African Americans take a collectivism approach to work, valuing intimacy, agreeableness and teamwork.
In addition, the study found that African Americans are more satisfied with their jobs when workplace policies allow them to balance competing demands of work and family — because of strong kinship values — by providing flexible work schedules, child care services and an organizational culture that does not penalize employees with family obligations.
Finally, African Americans are happier with their jobs and more committed to their employers when training and development opportunities are available to them, the researchers say.
"Organizations should invest in these practices not only because of institutional pressures, but also because organizations that make the best employers for a diverse work force are good employers for everyone," Wooten says. "With the right human resource management investments, firms are better able to recruit, develop and retain talented human capital committed to the goals of the organization. The spillover effects of good human resource management practices create a win-win situation for all employees and the organization."
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