Demographic diversity and employee attitudes: An empirical examination of relational demography within work units.

Abstract

In this study the authors examined the effects of an individual's similarity to the demographic composition of the workgroup on individual-level attitudes with 98 workgroups from a life insurance company. Results indicated that similarity in race-ethnicity affected individuals' attitudes toward their work group, as well as perceptions of advancement opportunities. Nonsignificant results were found for both similarity in gender and tenure. These findings suggest that demographic variables may have differing complexities in their effects on employee attitudes within work units.