2. Method
2.1. Study context
This study took place within a larger study of work organization
conducted in cooperation with a large national retailer in the United
States. Retail operations such as the one in this study are sometimes
referred to as “big box” or “warehouse” merchants. These stores
feature large, open floor plans and possess no physical separation of
the warehousing and selling functions. Customers are able to move
freely throughout the space, and for the most part, are able to access
the items they intend to purchase individually and bring them to the
front of the store for payment.
The larger study involved three waves of data collection, and the
data used in the present analyses are from the second wave of data
collection. Questionnaires were administered to employees in 21
retail units located in the southeastern portion of the United States.
The stores varied in size from approximately 150 employees to 375
employees. Standard informed consent procedures were followed and
the full research protocol was reviewed and approved by the
Institutional Review Board at the University of Georgia. Employee
participation was entirely voluntary and anonymous, and questionnaires
were administered onsite during regular business hours. Data
collection occurred over two consecutive days at each store, and
employees in all job categories and departments were eligible to
participate. At company request, no monetary or other incentives for
participation were provided. Completed questionnaires were deposited
in locked storage boxes by the respondents to reinforce the
confidentiality of the information.