Decent work and employee performance: a conservation of resources perspective

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this study explores the relationships of decent work (DW) with in-role performance (IRP) and organizational citizenship behavior toward the organization (OCBO) by focusing on the mediating role of career satisfaction (CS) and the moderating role of supervisor ostracism (SO).

Design/methodology/approach

Hypotheses were tested using latent moderated structural equations method with two-wave data from 376 employees in a South China industrial park.

Findings

DW is positively associated both directly and indirectly, via the mediation of CS, with IRP and OCBO; the positive relationship between DW and CS is negatively moderated by SO.

Practical implications

The findings show that employee performance can be improved by implementing discernible DW activities that foster CS, but that this effect can be weakened by SO. It is, therefore, critical to create a DW environment for employees and lessen the incidence of SO in the organization.

Originality/value

This research enriches the literature by addressing the previously unexplored relationship between DW and employee performance by focusing on the mediating role of CS and the moderating role of SO.

Citation

Huang, W. and Yuan, C. (2022), "Decent work and employee performance: a conservation of resources perspective", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 37 No. 8, pp. 716-728. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-09-2021-0505