Abusive supervision and workplace safety: The uncertainty and identity perspectives

Abstract

Drawing from uncertainty management theory and the social identity perspective, we examine how and when abusive supervision predicts safety behavior and safety performance. We argue that trait self- uncertainty exacerbates the adverse relationship between abusive supervision and safety behavior, and that chronic collective identity weakens the moderating effect of self-uncertainty. In a two-wave survey study of 468 manufacturing technicians (Study 1) and a three- wave survey study of 590 airline pilots using multisource data (Study 2), we found converging support for these hypotheses. Study 2 extends Study 1 by examining objective safety performance over time as a consequence of abusive supervision through the mediation of safety behavior. We discuss implications for future research and consider possible ways to reduce the safety consequences of abusive supervision.