Abstract
In the historical and cultural context of developing countries, such as China, illegitimate tasks have become an important source of workplace pressure for employees. Guided by the framework of the stress-as-offense-to-self theory, we explored how illegitimate tasks increase turnover intention. A total of 474 employees from China effectively completed the online survey. The results showed a positive correlation between illegitimate tasks, effort–reward imbalance, work–family conflict, and turnover intention. Illegitimate tasks can affect intention to quit directly and through two indirect paths: the separate intermediary effect of work–family conflict and the continuous mediating role of effort–reward imbalance and work–family conflict. The results indicate that illegitimate tasks increase employees’ intention to quit through the role of effort–reward imbalance and work–family conflict. This study contributes to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between illegitimate tasks and workers’ turnover intention in the context of Chinese history and culture. Additionally, the findings have implications for reducing attrition rate.
Highlights
The sources of workplace stress for employees have long been a common topic of concern
The effect size was 10.870%. (2) The series of mediating effects of effort–reward imbalance and work–family conflict was 0.017(95% CI: 0.004– 0.036)
Our findings show that illegitimate tasks have an indirect and positive effect on turnover intention
Summary
The sources of workplace stress for employees have long been a common topic of concern These sources—including social pressure, workload, and performance pressure—appear from all aspects of employees’ lives (Dai et al, 2021), but the effect of illegitimate tasks at work is often overlooked. Illegitimate tasks are defined as tasks that employees perceive ought not to be performed by them and are beyond their professional expectations (Semmer et al, 2010). Exploring this topic can provide a new perspective to explain employee stress and negative reactions as important factors affecting employees’ work behavior and physical and mental health. Illegitimate tasks can negatively affect their perceptions, work–family relationships, and work attitudes
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