Predicting Joining and Participating in Minority Employee Network Groups

Abstract

Do minority employees join network groups due to social identity, dissatisfaction with conditions at work, or career costs and benefits? Results show that joining is driven by social identity as well as expected costs (backlash) and benefits (career enhancement) but not by dissatisfaction, making it unlikely that they will become oppositional. Participation is also driven by cost‐benefit calculations and social identity (via the effect social identity has on the perceived benefits of network groups).