Exploratory Study of Younger Boss in Korea*- Psychological Contract Violation and Organizational Injustice -

This is a conceptual paper about the hidden effect of appointing a younger boss. In Korea, an individual may feel uneasy and even move to another department or leave the company when a younger person is appointed as his/her boss. In a collectivistic culture, age is very important, because a seniority system is a cultural norm, and a same–age cohort acts as one’s reference group for social comparison. This research posits that an employee’s perception that their psychological contract with their company is violated, not only through their own place within the organization, but also through the selection of their supervisor. The main argument is that in Korea, the appointment of a “younger boss” will elicit an organizational member’s perception of, and emotional reaction to, a violation of the psychological contract and an organizational injustice. The theoretical framework and managerial implications are also discussed.