Topic: Job Performance
Publication: Journal of Applied Psychology (JUNE 2009)
Article: Change in newcomers’ supervisor support and socialization outcomes after organizational entry
Authors: M. Jokisaari, J. Nurmi
Reviewed by: Larry Martinez
Most organizational researchers know about the “Honeymoon Effect” – the notion that employees are on their best behavior in the months directly following their hire. However, previous research has been limited to the first year after hire and has not investigated specific aspects of employee socialization that might contribute to this initial good behavior. Recently, Jokisaari and Nurmi looked into supervisor support as a predictor of important work outcomes over the first two years of employment.
They found that as time goes on, supervisor support seems to go down…and the faster this support goes down, the faster role clarity, job satisfaction, and salary increases go down as well (not only mean levels decrease, but rates of change slow proportionately).
So, newcomers could probably benefit from this knowledge by capitalizing on the initial quality time they get with their supervisor before the attention starts to wane. They can prepare themselves so they are not disenchanted when their supervisor starts paying less attention to them. Looks like romantic relationships aren’t the only ones that might benefit from “keeping the fires burning.”
Jokisaari, M., & Nurmi, J. (2009). Change in newcomers’ supervisor support and socialization outcomes after organizational entry. Academy of Management Journal, 52, 527-544.