How do human resource management practices affect employee well-being? A mediated moderation model

Abstract

Purpose

The study examines how human resource management practices (HRMPs) – including ability practice, motivation practice and opportunity practice – affect employee well-being (EWB) – including life well-being, job well-being and psychological well-being – in the Chinese cultural context.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 529 employees from various industries in China participated in the survey for this study. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings indicate that HRMPs have a significant positive effect on EWB. Specifically, practices based on ability, motivation and opportunity have a significant positive effect on job well-being, life well-being and psychological well-being, respectively. Integrity leadership moderates the impact of HRMPs on EWB. Organizational justice has a partial mediating effect on the relationship between HRMPs and EWB. Integrity leadership moderates the mediation effect of organizational justice in the relationship between HRMPs and EWB.

Practical implications

Human resource policies and practices need to create a fair organizational atmosphere, and managers implementing them must have integrity leadership. When selecting and promoting managers, organizations should pay attention to not only a candidate's ability but also his or her integrity.

Originality/value

This study uncovers how the important roles of organizational justice and integrity leadership act on the relationship between HRMPs and EWB, thus advancing our understanding of how HRMPs can effectively increase EWB.

Citation

Zhang, X., Lin, Z., Liu, Y., Chen, X. and Liu, D.M. (2020), "How do human resource management practices affect employee well-being? A mediated moderation model", Employee Relations, Vol. 42 No. 4, pp. 903-919. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-08-2019-0320