The purpose of this research was to study if employee' values priorities and tenure influence the organizational commitment. This relationship was explored with a sample of 200 employees. The instruments used were the Schwartz Value Inventory and the Mowday Scale of affective organizational commitment. Multiple regression analysis testing the predictive power of the ten value types showed that Tradition, Power, Stimulation and Universalism were salient predictors of organizational commitment. The relation of organizational commitment was negative with Stimulation (beta = - 0,26) and positive with the other three motivational types. When the predictive power of the four higher order value types was verified, only Conservatism was identified as antecedent of organizational commitment. It was concluded that, from the values motivations point of view, the organizational commitment is a complex behavior.
values; organizational commitment; tenure
