Fostering employee autonomy through rewards: a self-determination theory perspective

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explain and determine the effect of rewards on employees’ autonomy by investigating the mediating effect of enabling controls on their relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-wave survey strategy has been used to collect data from the alumni of a French business school. Structural equation modelling has been used for measures validating and hypotheses testing.

Findings

The study reveals a positive relationship between rewards and autonomy, mediated by enabling controls.

Practical implications

The study guides the process of administrating rewards to employees in a way that maximizes their autonomy, highlighting the crucial role of supervisors through enabling controls.

Originality/value

The study strives to create consensus regarding the long-existing debate on the effect of rewards on employees’ autonomy with the help of organizational theory literature. By considering the role of enabling controls, it provides a unique, cohesive framework to illustrate the intertwined relationship between the constructs.

Citation

Zeshan, M., Rasool, S., Di Prima, C. and Ferraris, A. (2025), "Fostering employee autonomy through rewards: a self-determination theory perspective", Management Research Review, Vol. 48 No. 1, pp. 78-94. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-11-2023-0835