Training Transfer during COVID-19 in Sri Lanka: The Critical Role of Supervisor Support

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the interaction effects among supervisor support, gender, and workplace context on training transfer during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a sample of supervisory and managerial staff in a leading export apparel manufacturer in Sri Lanka (N=152), we find that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, supervisor support had a significant effect on perceptions of training transfer. By examining interaction effects between supervisor support and department (workplace context) on training transfer, the study further corroborates the critical role that supervisors can have on the transfer setting during a crisis, even after more than a 6-month time lapse following the completion of the training program. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of this research.< br>Keywords: training transfer, COVID-19, supervisor support