Regulatory Fit Demonstrates That Prohibitive Voice Does Not Lead to Low Performance Evaluation

When prohibitive voice is effective? Exploring the jointly moderating role of hindrance stressor and work-based construal level

Prohibitive voice is important for employees and organizations to reduce hindrance stressor. However, previous research offered limited knowledge for whether prohibitive voice can lead to communication effectiveness in the context of hindrance stressor. The purpose of our research is to examine how to improve the communication effectiveness of prohibitive voice under hindrance stressor condition. Drawing from information richness theory and construal level theory, this study constructed a model regarding the three-way interactive effect of prohibitive voice, hindrance stressor, and work-based construal level on communication effectiveness. By investigating 55 supervisors and 393 employees, we examined our hypothesis. Results of cross-level analysis offered support for the assumption. Specifically, prohibitive voice from employees who are faced with high hindrance stressor and have high work-based construal level tends to be effective communication. Besides, when both hindrance stressor and work-based construal level are low, the association between prohibitive voice and communication effectiveness also tends to be positive. This study delineates the answer for how to increase communication effectiveness of prohibitive voice in the situation of hindrance stressor.

Enabling the Creative Performance of Indian IT Employees Through Their Voice: The Mediating Role of Psychosocial Prosperity

Organizations largely depend on their employees’ creativity to attain a competitive advantage. Drawing on Ability-Motivation-Opportunity (AMO) theory, this study examines whether employees’ voice behavior (promotive and prohibitive) can be harnessed to improve their creative performance. By exploring the mediating role of psychosocial prosperity and moderating effects of employees’ perception of their influence at work and their feelings of alienation, this study offers a unique model that enhances the literature on voice and creativity. Data collected from 285 Information Technology professionals in India reveals that both forms of voice lead to creative performance, and psychosocial prosperity mediates this positive relationship. This finding offers different insight for scholars as much of the voice literature expects prohibitive voice to yield negative results for the employee because of its associated risks. Also, employees’ perceived influence at work strengthens the positive effect of promotive voice on psychosocial prosperity, while alienation weakens the relationship between psychosocial prosperity and creativity performance. The study concludes by discussing the implications, limitations, and directions for future researchers.