Impact of Supervisor’s Identity Threat on Employees’ Prohibitive Voice Behavior Through Abusive Supervision and Fear: A Case of Pakistani Service Sector

Abstract

Purpose: In this study we used interactionists theory and the spillover effects of identity threat of a supervisor that how it leads to abusive behavior causing fear of negative evaluation in employees and their display of prohibitive voice behavior.

Design and Methodology: The study examined the phenomena in service sector of Pakistan where using quantitative technique, 363 dyads of supervisors and their followers participated in a personally administered survey in two time lags. Judgement sampling technique was used for data collection

Findings: The findings of the study confirmed the significant role of identity threat of supervisors in development of their abusive supervision style which further instills fear of negative evaluation and prohibitive voice in their subordinates.

Originality/Value: The study has responded to the calls of researchers to investigate causes of abusive supervision and their link to behavioral outcomes of employees. The study has investigated just one path opening avenues for investigation of other reasons providing evidence to policy makers to devise such mechanisms that curb abusive supervision and its negative outcomes in service sector of Pakistan.