Influence of relationship conflicts with leaders and coworkers on employees’ voice

• Siyuan Chen

  Beijing Jiaotong University

• Mingyu Zhang

  Beijing Jiaotong University

• Yihua Zhang

  Pepperdine University

• Wen Wu

  Beijing Jiaotong University

• Zhimin Xiao

  University of International Business and Economics

• Shaoxue Wu

  Beijing Shiquan Consulting Company, Beijing

• Pan Liu

  Beijing Jiaotong University

• Yuhuan Xia

  Beijing Jiaotong University

Building on self-determination theory and relational attribution theory, in this study we examined how relationship conflicts with leaders and coworkers simultaneously affect employee voice behaviors. We expanded relational attribution theory by developing two new constructs we labeled leader-relational attribution orientation and coworker-relational attribution orientation to describe employees’ different responses to relationship conflicts with leaders and coworkers via psychological needs satisfaction. We surveyed 328 employee–leader dyads who were employed at a semiconductor manufacturer to test our hypotheses. We found that leader-relational attribution orientation can strengthen the influences of relationship conflicts with leaders on psychological needs satisfaction and its indirect effects on employee voice behaviors. Coworker-relational attribution orientation can strengthen the influences of relationship conflicts with coworkers on psychological needs satisfaction and its indirect effects on employee voice behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

1. Siyuan Chen, Beijing Jiaotong University
   School of Economics and Management
2. Mingyu Zhang, Beijing Jiaotong University
   School of Economics and Management
3. Yihua Zhang, Pepperdine University
   Graduate School of Education and Psychology
4. Wen Wu, Beijing Jiaotong University
   School of Economics and Management
5. Zhimin Xiao, University of International Business and Economics
   School of International Trade and Economics
6. Pan Liu, Beijing Jiaotong University
   School of Economics and Management
7. Yuhuan Xia, Beijing Jiaotong University
   School of Economics and Management

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