Cross-level effects of affective climate on leader-member exchange : workplace friendship and team-member exchange

The present study advances the research on interpersonal exchange relationships by integrating social exchange, workplace friendship and climate research to develop a multilevel model. We tested the model with data obtained from a sample of 215 manager-employee dyads working in 36 teams using hierarchical linear modelling (HLM). At the individual level, LMX was positively associated with workplace friendship. Further, workplace friendship was positively related to TMX, and mediated the LMX-TMX relationship. At the team level, HLM results indicate that the relationship between LMX and workplace friendship was moderated by affective climate. Findings suggest that high-quality LMX relationships are associated with enhanced workplace friendship between employees, especially when affective group climate is strong and positive.