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Boss Competence and Worker Well-being

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  • Artz, Benjamin

    (University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh)

  • Goodall, Amanda H.

    (Cass Business School)

  • Oswald, Andrew J.

    (University of Warwick)

Abstract

Nearly all workers have a supervisor or 'boss'. Yet there is almost no published research by economists into how bosses affect the quality of employees' lives. This study offers some of the first formal evidence. First, it is shown that a boss's technical competence is the single strongest predictor of a worker's well-being. Second, we examine equivalent instrumental-variable results. Third, we demonstrate longitudinally that even if a worker stays in the same job and workplace then a newly competent supervisor greatly improves the worker's well-being. Finally, we discuss analytical possibilities, and consider necessary future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Artz, Benjamin & Goodall, Amanda H. & Oswald, Andrew J., 2014. "Boss Competence and Worker Well-being," IZA Discussion Papers 8559, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8559
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Boss Competence and Worker Well-being
      by maximorossi in NEP-LTV blog on 2014-12-10 19:19:44
    2. For worker control
      by chris in Stumbling and Mumbling on 2014-12-10 19:57:55

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Benjamin Artz & Amanda H. Goodall & Andrew J. Oswald, 2020. "How Common Are Bad Bosses?," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(1), pages 3-39, January.
    2. Artz, Benjamin & Blanchflower, David G. & Bryson, Alex, 2022. "Unions increase job satisfaction in the United States," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 173-188.
    3. Vera Rocha & Mirjam van Praag, 2020. "Mind the gap: The role of gender in entrepreneurial career choice and social influence by founders," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(5), pages 841-866, May.
    4. Nicolai J. Foss & Peter G. Klein, 2023. "Why managers still matter as applied organization (design) theory," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 12(1), pages 7-18, June.
    5. Geerts, Jaason M. & Goodall, Amanda H. & Agius, Stevie, 2020. "Evidence-based leadership development for physicians: A systematic literature review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    6. Kuroda, Sachiko & Yamamoto, Isamu, 2018. "Good boss, bad boss, workers’ mental health and productivity: Evidence from Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 106-118.
    7. Vera Rocha & Mirjam van Praag, 2016. "How do Entrepreneurial Bosses influence their Employees' Future Entrepreneurship Choices?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 16-110/VII, Tinbergen Institute.
    8. Lucifora, Claudio & Vigani, Daria, 2016. "What If Your Boss Is a Woman? Work Organization, Work-Life Balance and Gender Discrimination at the Workplace," IZA Discussion Papers 9737, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve & George Ward, 2017. "Happiness at work," CentrePiece - The magazine for economic performance 517, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    10. Clark, Andrew E. & Kozák, Michal, 2023. "Twenty Years of Job Quality in OECD Countries: More Good News?," IZA Discussion Papers 16597, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Bäker, Agnes & Goodall, Amanda H., 2020. "Feline followers and “umbrella carriers”: Department Chairs’ influence on faculty job satisfaction and quit intentions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(4).
    12. Petri Böckerman & Alex Bryson & Antti Kauhanen & Mari Kangasniemi, 2016. "Does Job Support Make Workers Happy?," DoQSS Working Papers 16-16, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.
    13. Wunder, Christoph & Zeydanli, Tugba, 2021. "The early costs of plant closures: Evidence on lead effects on workers’ subjective and objective outcomes," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 489-505.
    14. Isham, Amy & Mair, Simon & Jackson, Tim, 2021. "Worker wellbeing and productivity in advanced economies: Re-examining the link," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    15. Klus, Milan F. & Müller, Julia, 2018. "Identifying leadership skills required in the digital age," Discussion Papers of the Institute for Organisational Economics 11/2018, University of Münster, Institute for Organisational Economics.
    16. Argyro Avgoustaki & Hans T. W. Frankort, 2023. "All work intensity is not created equal: Effort motives, job satisfaction and quit intentions at a grocery chain," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 61(4), pages 869-894, December.
    17. Getinet Astatike Haile, 2023. "Organizational leadership: How much does it matter?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 61(3), pages 653-673, September.
    18. Petri Böckerman & Alex Bryson & Antti Kauhanen & Mari Kangasniemi, 2020. "Does job design make workers happy?," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 67(1), pages 31-52, February.
    19. Thomas L. P. R. Peeters & Steven Salaga & Matthew Juravich, 2020. "Matching and Winning? The Impact of Upper and Middle Managers on Firm Performance in Major League Baseball," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(6), pages 2735-2751, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    job satisfaction; leadership; expert leaders; bosses; happiness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management

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