The influence of high-commitment work system on work well-being: the mediating role of psychological empowerment and the moderating role of leader trust
ISSN: 0048-3486
Article publication date: 3 October 2020
Issue publication date: 22 June 2021
Abstract
Purpose
We draw on the conservation of resources theory to explore when and how a high-commitment work system (HCWS) improves employees' work well-being.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 64 branches in a high-tech company, involving 64 supervisors and 434 employees to examine the influence of branch-level HCWS on employees' work well-being at individual level.
Findings
Consistent with our predictions, the results indicate that a well-designed human resource management (HRM) system (i.e. HCWS) helps to enhance employees' work well-being. Psychological empowerment is seen as an important mechanism linking HCWS with work well-being. The effects of HCWS on psychological empowerment and work well-being are significantly positive only when leader trust in employees is high.
Originality/value
This study indicates a novel resource theoretical perspective regarding the HRM system-employee well-being relationship. It provides insights into how contextual resources (HCWS) enhance employees' work well-being by potentiating the effect of personal resources (psychological empowerment). Just as the old saying goes, “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” the leader trust serves as a critical valve.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding information: Supported by Shandong Social Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award numbers: Project No: 16CGLJ29; Joint PhD Student Funded Programs of Renmin University of China, School of Business.
Citation
Li, X. and Lin, C. (2020), "The influence of high-commitment work system on work well-being: the mediating role of psychological empowerment and the moderating role of leader trust", Personnel Review, Vol. 50 No. 4, pp. 1128-1147. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-01-2020-0034
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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