Technological complexity and employee silence: The buffering role of social support

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The increase of technological complexity at the workplace has encouraged researchers to pay more attention to the stress employees experience while constantly learning and adapting to new technologies. This study considers employee silence as a passive coping strategy in response to technological complexity. OBJECTIVE: This study examines whether self-efficacy mediates the effect of technological complexity on employee silence (i.e., quiescence and acquiescence) and whether social support interacts with technological complexity to influence self-efficacy and thereby employee silence. METHODS: Using a web-based survey, the data were collected from 206 full-time employees working in different sectors in France. RESULTS: Results indicate that technological complexity is positively associated with employee silence (i.e., quiescence and acquiescence silence) and that self-efficacy mediates the effect of technological complexity on employee silence. However, the effects of technological complexity are less pronounced when individuals have access to a large pool of social support. CONCLUSION: Managers are encouraged to introduce HR policies that motivate employees to speak up about the use of complex technology at the workplace by leveraging different social support programs.