Abstract
Based on data from a field study surveying 176 staff and supervisory employees, we examined the relationship between length of service and type of position (supervisory vs. employee) and employees' role perceptions. Length of service was unrelated to the extent to which employees considered organization- and individual-directed citizenship behaviors as part of their roles. Conversely, we found differences across job type, with supervisors perceiving citizenship behaviors more as part of their jobs than employees did. More importantly, position type moderated the relationship between organization tenure and role perceptions. While employees reported more behaviors as part of their role with increased length of service, supervisors were less inclusive as they spent more time in their jobs. These results might render support for an instrumentality-based explanation of role perceptions.
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