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Why illegitimate tasks should be reduced? Investigating their impact on employee well-being

Yun Dong, Alice H.Y. Hon, Jian Tian

Chinese Management Studies

ISSN: 1750-614X

Article publication date: 7 January 2025

64

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to use psychological contract theory to explore the substantial impact of illegitimate tasks on the well-being of hospitality employees. It also examines the mediating role of psychological contract breach and the moderating role of employee emotional intelligence within the proposed moderated mediation model.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 338 hospitality employees in Guangdong, China, and the hypotheses were examined through hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

The results revealed that illegitimate tasks could negatively impact employee well-being through psychological contract breach. Furthermore, employee emotional intelligence was confirmed as a critical moderator that buffers the negative impact of illegitimate tasks on psychological contract breach.

Originality/value

This research offers novel insights into the dynamics affecting hospitality employee well-being by framing illegitimate tasks within psychological contract theory. It identifies the critical conditions under which employees’ well-being is impacted, thus broadening the understanding of employee–organization interactions.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Data availability: The data that supports the findings of this study is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Conflict of competing interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Submission declaration: This manuscript is not previously published or being considered by another journal.

Citation

Dong, Y., Hon, A.H.Y. and Tian, J. (2025), "Why illegitimate tasks should be reduced? Investigating their impact on employee well-being", Chinese Management Studies, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-07-2024-0474

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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