The effects of employee voice on workplace bullying and job satisfaction

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 569-582
Author(s):  
Huai-Liang Liang ◽  
Tsung-Kai Yeh

Purpose Employee voice is seen as a double-edged behavior in organizations. This study considers individuals’ evaluations of various features of their work situations. In particular, leader–member exchange (LMX) mediates the influence of voice behavior on workplace bullying and employee job satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to examine a model in which employee voice positively affects workplace bullying and job satisfaction through LMX. Design/methodology/approach A total of 447 employer–employee dyads from a large manufacturing company and public organizations in Taiwan were surveyed. Two-wave data demonstrated a significant positive relationship between employee voice and its outcomes, mediated by LMX relationship. Findings The results reveal significant relationships between voice behavior and workplace bullying and between employee voice and job satisfaction. Additionally, LMX is an important mechanism in the relationships between employee voice and workplace bullying and employee voice and job satisfaction. Research limitations/implications Although this study obtained data from employer–employee dyads, practical constraints prevented complete consideration of issues in the work domain, such as colleagues, which might influence employees’ job satisfaction and workplace bullying. Practical implications Employee voice refers to an employee providing challenging advice to contribute to the success of an organization. Voicing employees who speak up to change the status quo and challenge the current circumstances in an organization may become the target of bullying. Therefore, it is suggested that leaders should address the advice offered by employees and provide suitable support when employee voice benefits the company. Originality/value The findings have implications for the understanding of employees’ conditions and its associations with social issues in the workplace.

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 495-509
Author(s):  
Hsin-Hui Chou ◽  
Shih-Chieh Fang ◽  
Tsung-Kai Yeh

Purpose Employee voice can improve organizational and individual performance. The purpose of this paper is to consider individuals’ evaluations of various features of their work situations. In particular, emotional exhaustion mediates the influence of facades of conformity on employee voice behavior and job satisfaction. This study examines a model in which facades of conformity negatively affects employee voice and job satisfaction through emotional exhaustion. Design/methodology/approach A total of 401 employer–employee dyads from a large manufacturing company and public organizations in Taiwan were surveyed. Two-wave data demonstrated a significant positive relationship between facades of conformity and its outcomes, mediated by emotional exhaustion. Findings The results reveal that facades of conformity relates to employee voice and job satisfaction. Additionally, emotional exhaustion is an important mechanism in the relationships between facades of conformity and employee voice and facades of conformity and job satisfaction. Research limitations/implications Although this study obtained data from employer–employee dyads, practical constraints prevented complete consideration of issues in the work domain, such as colleagues, which might influence employees’ voice and job satisfaction. Practical implications Employee who exhibit facades of conformity in an organization may work smoothly for short periods of time, the emotional response triggered by the conflict between their external behavior and their inner values can further reduce their voice behavior and thus affect the organization’s overall performance voice refers to an employee providing challenging advice to contribute to the success of an organization. Originality/value The findings have implications for the understanding of employees’ conditions and its associations with social issues in the workplace.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 582-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ela Unler ◽  
Sibel Caliskan

Purpose Analysis of employee voice has focused on the reasons and managerial issues regarding the available environment to speak up. The purpose of this paper is to understand the effect of management attitude on employee voice with the mediating effect of individual’s perceived psychological safety (PPS). Besides, the role of job satisfaction (JS) and being individualist/collectivist as moderators over the effect of psychological safety on employee voice are analyzed. Design/methodology/approach The authors constructed a framework based on Maynes and Podsakoff’s (2014) view that identifies four different types of voice behavior (supportive, constructive, defensive and destructive). In total, 286 questionnaires were collected from employees working in telecommunication industry. Findings Based on analysis, positive management attitude facilitates supportive and constructive voice (CV) and reduces destructive voice (DESV). PPS mediates the relationship with management attitude and DESV. JS level facilitates supportive CV and reduces DESV. Collectivism level of employees moderates PPS and DESV. Path analysis results showed a similar model for mediation effect of safety, and showed a better model fit and explanation for trust mediation between LMX and supportive, constructive and DESV. Supported assumptions would be discussed-based social exchange theory and signaling theory. Research limitations/implications The sample is relatively small which limits the external validity of the findings. Practical implications Results revealed the managerial attitude over employee voice through perceived work environment (psychological safety) and trust. Originality/value This study is one of the first that integrates not only constructive but also DESV into the model.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajjad Nazir ◽  
Amina Shafi ◽  
Muhammad Ali Asadullah ◽  
Wang Qun ◽  
Sahar Khadim

PurposeThis study examines the serial mediation mechanism between paternalistic leadership and innovative work behavior through the leader–member exchange (LMX) and employee voice behavior. Particularly, this study utilized the social exchange theory to investigate the indirect effect of three distinct dimensions of paternalistic leadership style on innovative work behavior through LMX and employee voice behavior.Design/methodology/approachSelf-reported questionnaires were used to collect data from 397 employees in Pakistan. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe two dimensions of paternalistic leadership were significantly related to LMX. LMX had a significant effect on employee voice behavior that was further related to innovative work behavior. The findings also support the mediating role of LMX between authoritarian and moral leadership and employee voice. Further, LMX and employee voice boosted the indirect relationship between moral leadership and innovative behavior. However, authoritarian leadership demonstrated a significant but negative indirect effect on innovative behavior through LMX and employee voice.Practical implicationsThe organizational members need to encourage a high LMX and voice behavior to enhance the positive effects of benevolent and moral leadership styles on innovative employee behaviors. Contrarily, they need to discourage authoritarian leadership if they want to enhance innovative work behavior through LMX and employee voice. Furthermore, when leaders provide a safe environment to employees at the workplace, then they may feel secure to take risks and exhibit innovative work behavior, which ultimately contributes to increasing employee and organizational performance.Originality/valueThis study extended the existing literature on paternalistic leadership in two important ways. First, this study examined a serial mediation mechanism to test the effect of paternalistic leadership on innovative work behavior through LMX and voice behavior. Second, this is a key study to investigate which dimension of paternalistic leadership is effective to boost employees' innovative work behavior at the individual level in the Pakistani organizational context.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 560-572
Author(s):  
Jinyun Duan ◽  
Émilie Lapointe ◽  
Yue Xu ◽  
Sarah Brooks

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand better why employees voice. Drawing on social information processing theory and insights derived from the literature on power, the authors suggest that leader–member exchange (LMX) fosters voice by reducing the perceived risk of voicing. The authors further contend that high perceived leader power will strengthen this mediated relationship. Design/methodology/approach The authors relied on a sample of 265 employee-supervisor dyads collected from Chinese organizations to test the study hypotheses. Findings Results indicated that perceived risk of voicing significantly mediated the positive LMX–voice behavior relationship. In addition, perceived leader power strengthened the effect of LMX on voice behavior via perceived risk of voicing. The relationship of LMX to perceived risk of voicing was more negative, and the indirect effect of LMX on voice behavior was more positive when employees perceived that leader power was high. Practical implications Organizations seeking to promote voice behaviors should support leaders to develop high-quality relationships with employees. Organizations should also ensure that leaders are sufficiently empowered to fulfill their roles, and ensure that employees are aware of their leaders’ influence. Originality/value Findings suggest that, in the context of high quality leader–member relationships, employees’ perceptions of their leaders’ power may help to overcome barriers associated with speaking up. Thus, this study helps explain the conditions that encourage employees to voice.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoling Song ◽  
Wen Wu ◽  
Shengyue Hao ◽  
Xiaohua Lu ◽  
Yihua Zhang ◽  
...  

Purpose Drawing on engagement theory, this study aims to examine how leader–member relationships, including on-work relationship (leader–member exchange [LMX]) and off-work relationship (leader–member guanxi [LMG]), influence employees’ promotive and prohibitive voice. Furthermore, the study uses procedural justice as the moderator to distinguish the effects of LMG and LMX on employees’ psychological states and voice through a mediated moderation model. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a sample from a private and local company in Southern China to test their theoretical model. Findings The study finds that both LMG and LMX have positive effects on employees’ voice behavior through employees’ psychological states (psychological meaningfulness and psychological safety). Research limitations/implications In a Chinese context, leaders have a more direct and powerful influence on employees than their counterparts in the Western society. Thus, the findings of LMX and LMG may not be generalizable to a Western context. A possible extension is to examine and compare the effects of social context (e.g., off-work leader–member relationship) on voice between the East and the West. Practical implications One important implication is that off-work relationship should be used by managers to encourage employee voice. Originality/value This study enriches the antecedents of voice with a new dimension of leader–member relationship, namely, LMG.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise M. Cumberland ◽  
Brad Shuck ◽  
Jason Immekus ◽  
Meera Alagaraja

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight the effect of supervisor openness on employee voice among middle management employees in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The authors develop a model to examine the mediating role of job satisfaction and employee engagement in the SME context. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey design was used to gather data from respondents who worked in SMEs (N=202). Exploratory factor analysis was used for dimensionality assessment of the voice measure. Mediation analysis was used to examine a two-mediator model to investigate the effects of engagement and job satisfaction on voice, and the degree these variables mediated the relationship of supervisor openness to ideas with employee voice. Findings Results revealed that supervisor openness is positively associated with job satisfaction and employee engagement, but only engagement was a facilitating variable that stimulated employee voice. Research limitations/implications Middle management members can be a conduit or inhibitor of the free flow of information. Yet, research has tended to ignore the role of middle managers in voice research. Moreover, within the specific organizational context of SMEs, greater understanding of both the antecedents and mediators to voice behavior is likely to impact the development of specific HR practices that focus on engagement and better facilitate two-way communication between supervisors and employees. Originality/value This work refines the understanding of the role employee engagement has on employee voice in the context of SMEs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 3082-3100 ◽  
Author(s):  
MiRan Kim ◽  
Laee Choi ◽  
Bonnie J. Knutson ◽  
Carl P. Borchgrevink

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationships among leader–member exchange (LMX), employee voice, team–member exchange (TMX), employee job satisfaction and employee commitment to customer service (ECCS) across the USA and Chinese cultures within the hotel context. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was completed by hotel employees across the USA (n = 315) and China (n = 363). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings The findings of this study imply that the relationships among constructs between two nations are very similar, with a few significant differences. Specifically, this study shows that there are significant differences between the USA and China regarding the effects of LMX on employee voice, TMX, job satisfaction and ECCS. Research limitations/implications The research should be extended with more than two national cultures to increase the generalizability of the research findings. Primary implication is that leader in China, and the USA should seek to build LMX quality to reap organizational benefits. Practical implications This study can help global hospitality firms develop management strategies effectively. Originality/value The study’s findings provide researchers with a better understanding of the LMX framework across USA and Chinese cultures. It also verifies the underlying relational effects among LMX and its outcomes across different nations, thus offering global hospitality organizations best management practices across cultures. Further, this study seeks to fill gaps in previous LMX and employee voice studies by providing robust explanations of the cultural influences on LMX framework across nations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 374-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsang-Lang Liang ◽  
Hsueh-Feng Chang ◽  
Ming-Hsiang Ko ◽  
Chih-Wei Lin

Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between transformational leadership and employee voice behavior and the role of relational identification and work engagement as mediators in the same. Design/methodology/approach This study uses structural equation modeling to analyze the data from a questionnaire survey of 251 Taiwanese hospitality industry employees. Findings The findings demonstrate that transformational leadership has significant relationships with relational identification, work engagement and employee voice behavior and that relational identification and work engagement sequentially mediate between transformational leadership and employee voice behavior. Practical implications The results of this study provide insights into the intervening mechanisms linking leaders’ behavior with employees’ voices, while also highlighting the potential importance of relational identification in organizations, especially concerning the enhancement of employees’ work engagement and voice. Originality/value The findings reveal the mechanisms by which supervisors’ transformational leadership encourages employees to voice their suggestions, providing empirical evidence of the sequential mediation of relational identification and work engagement. The results help clarify the psychological process by which leaders influence their followers.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Archana Manapragada Tedone ◽  
Valentina Bruk-Lee

Purpose To boost efficiency and productivity, organizations are increasingly depending upon employees to speak up about workplace concerns and disagreements. This change-oriented bottom-up communication, termed employee voice behavior, brings attention to workplace issues that could otherwise go undetected by management. This study examined the relationships between personality characteristics, job attitudes, and employee voice behavior, and investigated the moderating role of extraversion on the relationships between job attitudes (i.e., job satisfaction and turnover intentions) and voice. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study design was used, with data collected through an online survey from a sample of 284 individuals working in the US. Hypotheses were tested using correlation, regression and moderation analyzes. Findings Job satisfaction and turnover intentions were found to be positively and negatively-related, respectively, to employee voice behavior. Extraversion was found to be predictive of employee voice behavior and moderate the relationships between job attitudes and voice behavior. Interestingly, results suggest that the job attitudes of individuals high in extraversion do not influence their likelihood of speaking up. Rather, voice behaviors of only those with low or moderate levels of extraversion are impacted by their job attitudes. Originality/value This study builds upon prior research identifying the importance of extraversion in predicting voice behavior by testing its incremental validity and relative weight, compared to the other Big Five personality characteristics. Furthermore, this research contributes to the theoretical understanding of instances in which employee voice behavior occurs by examining the moderating effect of extraversion on the relationship between job attitudes and employee voice behavior.


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402110067
Author(s):  
Sehrish Ilyas ◽  
Ghulam Abid ◽  
Fouzia Ashfaq ◽  
Muhammad Ali ◽  
Wasif Ali

Employee voice behavior has attained significant attention in contemporary research due to its positive consequences for both workers and employers. Drawing on the social exchange theory, this study examined the mediating role of job satisfaction and psychological empowerment on the relationship between transformational leadership and employee’s voice behavior. Data were collected through survey questionnaires by utilizing a three-wave time-lagged study design from employees from diverse private and public sector organizations in Pakistan. The parallel multiple mediation is tested through Hayes’s process macro. The results indicate that job satisfaction and psychological empowerment partially mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and employee’s voice behavior. Further analysis depicts that both job satisfaction and psychological empowerment leveraged under transformational leadership act as parallel mediators and have no statistical significant difference between them. The theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.


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