The inequality of voice: how belonging to lower social status groups impacts worker voice

We draw on relational inequality theory (RIT) and status beliefs research to examine how social status shapes worker voice and supervisor responses to work-related issues. We investigate whether women, non-Western migrants, and lower-educated workers are less likely than men, native-born, and higher-educated workers to engage in claims-making by voicing concerns to their supervisor. Additionally, we examine whether supervisors are more likely to reject claims made by workers from lower-status groups. Using survey data (N = 3,215) from the Dutch labor market, we analyze status differences in worker voice behavior and perceived supervisor responses across workplaces. We find that workers with a non-Western migrant background or lower education are more likely to remain silent when experiencing a workplace issue, whereas gender differences in worker voice are explained by working hours. We find no evidence that lower-status workers report more suppression of their voice.