Does LMX always promote employee voice: a dark side of migrant working in Saudi Arabia

Purpose: Drawing on the self-consistency theory, we tested a model where employees’ supervisor-based self-esteem (SBSE) is positively related to their promotive and prohibitive voice. The model also suggested that SBSE mediates the positive relationship between leader-member exchange social comparison (LMXSC) of an employee’s promotive and prohibitive voice, but these relationships are weakened for migrant workers.

Design/Methodology: To test our hypotheses, multi-source data were collected from 341 matched supervisor-supervisee dyads working in a diverse range of organizations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We carried out this study in the context of a unique work environment created in KSA as a result of the recent policies of the government.

Findings: As predicted, employees’ SBSE is positively related to their promotive and prohibitive voice and mediates a positive relationship between their LMXSC and their promotive and prohibitive voice, but only for local workers.

Originality: Our study responds to calls for more research that explores the roles played by macro-environmental factors on employees’ voice. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.