City Research Online

Abstract

How does boss quality relate to the work intensity of subordinates? Bridging research on the antecedents of work intensity and the consequences of boss quality, we analyze this relationship using data from the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey and longitudinal data from the 2015/2018 American Working Conditions Survey. In cross-sectional, pooled, and panel analyses, we find robust evidence of a negative association between boss quality and employee work intensity. This association is substantially more negative in contexts in which supervisory discretion is likely to be greater—particularly in organizations that are small, in the private sector, and without employee representation.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Frankort, H. T. W. & Avgoustaki, A. (2026). Boss Quality and Employee Work Intensity: Evidence from Europe and the United States. Industrial Relations, which will be published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1468232x. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Departments:	Bayes Business School Bayes Business School > Faculty of Management
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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