Supervisor-Subordinate Relationships, Accountability and Wellbeing

Abstract

The supervisor-subordinate relationship is vital to public sector employees. The paper examined the impact of supervisor-subordinate relationships upon police officers' perceptions of accountability and in turn, wellbeing. Mixed methods were used to collect data. The findings provide new insight into whether the supervisor-subordinate relationship is adequately "cushioning" police officers from organisational demands for increased efficiency and accountability. The implications of the findings are that the present supervision practices are not ideal for delivering high quality services to the public, nor are they ideal for ensuring the wellbeing of police officers. The LMX lens and the findings from this study challenges policing managers in OECD countries to rethink the direction and substance of control-centred management aimed at ensuring professional conduct within a cost-driven efficiency agenda