The Impact of Subordinate Disability on Leader-Member Exchange Relationships

Abstract

An organizational simulation ( n = 85) and a field study (41 supervisors and 220 subordinates) were conducted to investigate the impact of subordinates' disability status on leader-member exchange (LMX) relationships. Both studies investigated how subordinate disability and ingratiation were related to LMX quality. As hypothesized, the interaction of disability and ingratiation affected LMX. Ingratiation had a stronger relationship to supervisors' LMX ratings when a subordinate had a disability. Implications of the results are discussed and suggestions for future research presented.