Test of a communication model of organizational commitment

Abstract
This study proposes and tests a communication model of organizational commitment which pivots about the idea of individual freedom to communicate. A study of 253 employees in a variety of organizations is reported. In support of the model, the results revealed that employees desire more freedom of speech in the workplace than they currently have. The less perceived freedom of speech in the workplace, the less that employees have organizational commitment and satisfaction with their work and supervisor, and the organization is perceived less favorably in several ways. Also, perceptions of freedom of speech in the workplace explained variability in organizational commitment not accounted for by beliefs about the organization's economic stability, commitment to product quality, and commitment to employee work‐life quality.