Workplace learning and foreign workers' commitment to host cultural organization: the effects of cross-cultural adjustment and supervisor trust

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between workplace learning and organizational commitment with the mediating role of cross-cultural adjustment and the moderating role of supervisor trust for the case of foreign workers in a new cultural setting.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses structural equation modeling to analyze a sample data of 367 Vietnamese and Philippine workers in Taiwan.FindingsResults show that workplace learning enhances foreign workers' organizational commitment. Cross-cultural adjustment is found to have a mediating effect in the link between workplace learning and organizational commitment. Furthermore, supervisor trust moderates the link between cross-cultural adjustment and organizational commitment. In addition, supervisor trust moderates the indirect effect of workplace learning on organizational commitment through cross-cultural adjustment.Originality/valuePrior literature often focuses on expatriates who are high-skilled employees. This study investigates low-skilled workers who come from less-developed country working in a more developed economy. This study is one of the first researches examining the issue of foreign workers' commitment in new cultural environment. Our findings shed a new light to the effect of workplace learning on organizational commitment. Our findings also help to clarify the roles of cross-cultural adjustment and supervisor trust into the workplace learning–organizational commitment relationship. This study provides implications for researchers and managers regarding to management and development of foreign workers for local organizations.

Can trust in management help? Job satisfaction, healthy lifestyle, and turnover intentions

“…As one's work and non-work domains are mutually interactive, positive work experiences, such as trust, can influence one's non-work life. As such, supervisor support and trust in one's supervisor can affect employee's health, wellbeing (H€ ammig, 2017) and organizational commitment (Dang et al, 2021). Though we did not explicitly ask questions on work-family dynamics, we theorize that confidence in one's supervisor, through their support, can contribute to trust that can facilitate employee's fulfillment of non-work responsibilities without fearing repercussions at work.…”

“…As one's work and non-work domains are mutually interactive, positive work experiences, such as trust, can influence one's non-work life. As such, supervisor support and trust in one's supervisor can affect employee's health, wellbeing (Hämmig, 2017) and organizational commitment (Dang et al. , 2021).…”

Effect of Prior International Experience on Cultural Intelligence Level and Cross-Cultural Adjustment Among Temporary Project Team

“…It is a work-related variable known to be the easiest of all three facets of the parent and the subsidiary organisation in the host country has similarities (Konanahalli et al, 2014;Takeuchi & Chen, 2013). CCA is often associated with an individual's ability to survive and succeed in a new environment (Dang, Vu & Nguyen, 2020). A person's capability to survive and flourish in a new community is often correlated with CCA.…”

ETHICAL CLIMATES AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT: A CASE OF NGOs OPERATING IN PAKISTAN

“…For NGOs, training and development and empowerment of employees are positively and significantly related to OC (Mukhtar, Sial, Imran, & Jilani, 2012). The factors like organizational culture, cross cultural adjustment and supervisor's trust have significant relationship with OC of the employees (Dang, Vu, & Nguyen, 2020). Whereas, performance appraisal or assessments have insignificant relationship with OC of the individuals (Mukhtar et al, 2012).…”