Supervisor gender and subordinates’ job satisfaction in Europe

Abstract

This paper analyses the influence that supervisor gender has on employee job satisfaction, considering the supportive behaviours developed by such supervisor as mediating variables in this relationship. The empirical evidence provided by a sample of 34,872 employees from 35 European countries allows us to assert the following: (1) job satisfaction of European employees depends on the extent to which their supervisor develops supportive behaviours in terms of respect toward the subordinate, recognition of a job well done, encouraging teamwork, assistance in performing the job and motivation for the development of the subordinate; (2) these supportive behaviours, in turn, are conditioned by supervisor gender; and (3) when the supervisor is a woman, her supportive behaviour is greater, thus employee job satisfaction increases. Within the framework of the literature on gender and managerial behaviour and practices, theoretical contributions are derived from this research which are useful to political, social and business stakeholders.