The Impact of Supervisor Envy on Employee Behavior
How envious bosses affect the quality of leader-member relationships
1The New Face of Workplace Envy
Recent years have seen workplace envy research expand to include supervisors envying subordinates (downward envy). This study examines the emotional and behavioral reactions of employees targeted by such envy.
2Threat or Opportunity?
Employees appraise supervisor envy either as a relational threat or opportunity. This appraisal leads to different emotional responses, such as relationship anxiety or hope.
3Anxiety and Avoidance Behavior
Employees experiencing relationship anxiety tend to avoid their supervisors. This behavior negatively impacts the quality of the leader-member exchange relationship.
4Hope and Approach Behavior
Employees feeling hope demonstrate more citizenship behaviors toward their supervisors. This approach strengthens the leader-member relationship.
5The Role of Power Dynamics
Employees' sense of power relative to their supervisor mitigates the anxiety-based pathway but has limited effect on the hope-based pathway, revealing the complex impact of power dynamics.
6Implications for Management Practices
The research offers practical suggestions for managing downward envy in organizations. Understanding emotional responses is crucial for maintaining stable leader-member relationships.