Determinants of Proactive Work Behavior of Employees during the COVID-19 Crisis: A Perspective on Toxic Leadership in the Virtual Work Setting

Abstract

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations have been forced to use social media and digital applications to carry out routine tasks. This posed several complications and challenges that hindered harmonic interaction between managers and their subordinates. This study investigates the indirect association between toxic leadership and proactive work behavior via psychological safety (PYS). We also investigate the role of perceived insider status (PIS) as a moderator in the association between toxic leadership and PYS as well as the indirect connection between toxic leadership and proactive work behavior. The work is based on the timelag results of 282 supervisor-employee dyads from different small and mid-sized information technology (IT) firms. The results show that toxic leadership has a significant impact on employee PSY and proactive work behavior as well as revealing that PIS substantially mitigated the negative effects of toxic leadership on employee PYS. Similarly, PIS influences the mediating role of PYS in the association between toxic leadership and proactive work behavior of employees. This research is helpful for academics and practitioners involved in human-resource practices in the IT industry.