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COVID-19-related job insecurity and employees’ behavioral outcomes: mediating role of emotional exhaustion and moderating role of symmetrical internal communication

Abdul Karim Khan (College of Business and Economics, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates)
Maria Khalid (Department of Business Administration, Foundation University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan)
Nida Abbas (Department of Business Administration, Foundation University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan)
Shehryar Khalid (Department of Management Studies, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan)

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management

ISSN: 0959-6119

Article publication date: 3 May 2022

Issue publication date: 3 June 2022

1162

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of COVID-19-related job insecurity on two types of employees’ behaviors: family undermining and withdrawal. This study also proposes emotional exhaustion as a mediator and symmetrical internal communication as a moderator in the relationship between COVID-19-related job insecurity and employees’ behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a time-lagged design, data were gathered from 193 employees working in Pakistan’s hospitality sector. Structural equation modeling in AMOS and PROCESS Macro were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that COVID-19-related job insecurity is positively related to family undermining and withdrawal behaviors, and these associations are mediated by emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, symmetrical internal communication weakens the positive influence of COVID-19-related job insecurity on emotional exhaustion. Additionally, the indirect impact of COVID-19-related job insecurity on employees’ behavioral outcomes via emotional exhaustion is stronger for employees with low symmetrical internal communication than for those with high levels of symmetrical internal communication.

Practical implications

Hospitality management needs to focus on transparent and horizontal communication patterns to reduce the ensuing negative behaviors from COVID-19-related job insecurity.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the impact of COVID-19-related job insecurity on two types of employees’ behaviors: family undermining and withdrawal. This study also offers new insights via mediating mechanisms and moderators associated with the relationship between COVID-19-related job insecurity and employees’ behavioral reactions.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research was partially supported by a grant # G00003426 given to the first author by the UAE University.

Citation

Khan, A.K., Khalid, M., Abbas, N. and Khalid, S. (2022), "COVID-19-related job insecurity and employees’ behavioral outcomes: mediating role of emotional exhaustion and moderating role of symmetrical internal communication", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 34 No. 7, pp. 2496-2515. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2021-0639

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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