Supervisor–subordinate guanxi and employee voice behavior: a job demands-resources model perspective

Lin Du, Rohayu Abdul-Ghani and Elaina Rose Johar

Evidence-based HRM, 2026, 1-15

Abstract: Purpose Drawing on the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, this research proposed a moderated mediation model to examine the effect of supervisor–subordinate guanxi (SSG) on Chinese employees' voice behavior, with perceived job control as the mediator and subordinate gender as the moderator.Design/methodology/approach Using a time-lagged research design, this study collected two waves of survey data from 312 employees across four companies in the financial services industry.Findings The findings revealed that SSG positively influenced voice behavior. Furthermore, perceived job control, as a job resource, mediated the relationship between SSG and voice behavior. Additionally, subordinate gender moderated both the relationship between SSG and perceived job control, and the indirect effect of SSG on voice behavior through perceived job control.Originality/value This study is the first to apply the JD-R model to explain the impact of supervisor–subordinate relationships on voice behavior and its underlying mechanisms. It extends the JD-R model by innovatively conceptualizing supervisor–subordinate relationships as personal resources.

Keywords: Supervisor–subordinate guanxi; Voice behavior; Perceived job control; Subordinate gender; Job demands-resources model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:ebhrmp:ebhrm-04-2026-0244

DOI: 10.1108/EBHRM-04-2026-0244

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