OCCUPATIONAL CONDITIONS AND WORKERS SENSE OF COMMUNITY - VARIATIONS BY GENDER AND RACE

The literature is reviewed to define a sense of community in the workp lace and to identify, factors that may foster it. A model is developed and estimated with survey data from a culturally diverse sample of me n and women performing lower-level jobs at a medium-sized manufacturin g firm. Results of regression analyses are reported that correct for s ample selection bias resulting from the lower response rates of minori ty workers. Findings suggest that well-designed jobs and supportive wo rkplace relationships and policies are important in explaining workers ' sense of community, defined as workers' perceptions of mutual commit ment between employee and employer. Informal sources of support play a larger role in explaining men's sense of community, while formal sour ces of support are more important in explaining women's sense of commu nity. Findings further suggest that African American workers, especial ly women, have a difficult time experiencing a sense of community at w ork.