Boundaries of ethical leadership in mitigating workplace bullying: the moderation effect of team power distance orientation

Abstract

Grounded in social information processing and social exchange theories, this study explores the effect of team power distance orientation on the indirect relationship between ethical leadership and affective commitment through workplace bullying. Based on a sample of 289 public servants nested in 59 teams in Vietnam, the affective commitment of public servants is positively related to ethical leadership while having a negative association with workplace bullying. We found evidence for the moderation effect of high team power-distance orientation. The findings highlight the importance of contextual values in understanding how ethical leadership mitigates the adverse impacts of workplace bullying.