Examining the relationship between perceived leadership behaviors and employee engagement among part-time retail employees

This study explored the relationship between perceived transformational, transactional, and passive/avoidant leadership behaviors and employee work engagement among part-time employees within a retail environment. The research collected a total of 44 valid surveys from a random selection of part-time employees from a variety of retail establishments in the United States. Participants were asked to complete three surveys containing demographic information, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. It was predicted and supported that perceived transformational leadership positively influenced part-time employee work engagement. Predictions that transactional and passive/avoidant leadership behaviors negatively influenced part-time employee work engagement were not supported. The implications for the potential relationship between transformational, transactional, and passive/avoidant leadership and part-time employee work engagement and the potential impact these factors have on retail organizations will be discussed.