Be Careful How You Do It: The Distinct Effects of Observational Monitoring and Interactional Monitoring on Employee Trust

Di Wu and Zhongming Wang
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Di Wu: School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Zhongming Wang: School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 15, 1-10

Abstract: Research shows that employee trust could be impacted by monitoring measures. We contend that these impacts could be contingent on how monitoring is exercised. Specifically, while the controlling elements in monitoring signal suspicion and undermine employee trust, the interactive elements facilitate the organization–employee reciprocation and strengthen employee trust. We drew evidence from 354 Chinese employees. The results showed that observational monitoring/interactional monitoring was negatively/positively related to employee trust and that employee psychological safety fully mediated these effects. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords: observational monitoring; interactional monitoring; trust; psychological safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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