Understanding the link between supervisor and co-worker support, job characteristics, work engagement and employee resilience: evidence from Uganda

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between support (i.e. supervisor support (SS) and co-worker support (CS)), job characteristics (job autonomy, job complexity and skill variety) and work engagement (WE). Furthermore, the study examined whether there is a mediating effect of employee resilience (ER) on the aforementioned variables. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from employees working in SMEs in Uganda. A sample of 324 responses was used for data analysis. Structural equation modelling and bootstrapping procedures were used to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings The study findings confirmed that SS, CS and job characteristics were positively related to WE. The study revealed that SS, job autonomy, job complexity and skill variety were found to foster WE through ER. Yet, CS was found not to have an indirect impact on WE through ER. Research limitations/implications Because this study was conducted using a cross-sectional research methodology, it makes it hard to draw causal inferences. Originality/value This study’s findings contribute to the existing body of literature on WE and job characteristics and also adds to the growing body of research on ER.