Title: In times of stress, be tough or be soft? Examining the relationship between work stress and upward influence behaviour

Authors: Ran Zhang

Addresses: Hotel Management School, Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Postbus 1298, 8900 CG Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

Abstract: This study examined how work stress was related to employee upward influence behaviour. Data were collected from 170 employees in a large logistics company in mainland China. Results showed that stress was positively related to hard upward influence tactics (i.e., assertiveness, coalition building, and upward appeal). Furthermore, key aspects of employee satisfaction (e.g., supervisory support, satisfaction concerning salary, satisfaction concerning working conditions) were found to moderate the positive relationships between stress and employees' use of assertiveness and coalition building such that these relationships were less positive when employee satisfaction was higher rather than lower. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

Keywords: job stress; employee satisfaction; upward influence; work stress; logistics; China; assertiveness; coalition building; upward appeal; supervisory support; salary; working conditions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2016.078207

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2016 Vol.16 No.3/4, pp.196 - 218

Accepted: 02 Apr 2016
Published online: 08 Aug 2016 *

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