Do front-line employees in the Chinese commercial banks have the rights to experience psychological well-being?

Abstract

PurposeBy drawing on leader–member exchange theory, this study aims to understand the relationship between job autonomy, transformational leadership and psychological well-being mediated by job satisfaction among front-line employees in Chinese commercial banks.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study which consists of 96 respondents from 5 Chinese commercial banks is conducted.FindingsThrough data analysis, the results reveal that transformational leadership and job autonomy are significantly positively related to job satisfaction and directly related to the psychological well-being of front-line employees in Chinese commercial banks. Another interesting finding is that there is a mean difference between male and female front-line employees in Chinese commercial banks on the preference of job autonomy and transformational leadership.Originality/valueThe current study offers further evidence for which strategies Chinese commercial banks should adopt to enhance and protect the rights of front-line employees’ psychological well-being. As front-line employees in commercial banks play a vital role in contributing to bank profits and operational efficiency. They are not only the employees for making profits but also have the right to experience the psychological well-being as a human. Employees with a high level of job satisfaction and psychological well-being benefit both their own health and organizational performance in the long run.