Learning climate and workplace learning: does work restructuring make a difference?

Abstract

In the current study, we propose that organizational learning climate in terms of facilitation learning climate, appreciation learning climate, and error-avoidance climate has the capacity to enhance employees' level of newly acquired competences. Additionally, we investigated whether this relationship holds when employees face work restructuring. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses on a large sample of the Dutch working population (N = 1,013). The results showed that work restructuring moderated the hypothesized relationships. Under conditions of high restructuring, facilitation learning climate was an important predictor of learning outcomes; yet, under conditions of low work restructuring, appreciation learning climate was more effective. The current paper contributes to research on organizational change and workplace learning by providing evidence that organizational change can impact the way organizational learning climate supports employee learning.