Communication Motives, Satisfaction, and Social Support in the Workplace: Are Supervisors Effective Support Sources in Employee Networks?

In this study we examine the relationship among supervisors´ social support skills, employees´ communication motives, and supervisor-subordinate relationship satisfaction. A network approach focuses on the relational tie between actors, as opposed to characteristics of the actors themselves. Using a sample of employees (N=222) from a wide range of occupations, we found that supervisors´ emotional, informative, and instrumental social support skills are positively correlated with employees´ communication motives of pleasure, affect, inclusion, and relaxation. While network studies suggest the need to navigate one´s social web in order to acquire different types of support from different proximate alters, employees herein report attaining emotional, informative, and instrumental support from one singular tie: Their supervisor at work.