The impact of leaders’ affiliative humor and aggressive humor on the workplace ostracism: a serial mediation model

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigated the impact of leader humor on workplace ostracism, with leader-member exchange (LMX) and supervisor ostracism employed as mediators. Data from 517 full-time hotel employees indicated that both leader affiliative humor and leader aggressive humor did not directly affect workplace ostracism. Leader affiliative humor improved workplace ostracism first through LMX and then supervisor ostracism. Leader aggressive humor exacerbates workplace ostracism indirectly through supervisor ostracism. Leader aggressive humor exerted a higher effect on workplace ostracism than did leader affiliative humor. Drawing on job demands-resources model and social exchange theory, this study is the first to provide a framework investigating leader humor, LMX, supervisor ostracism, and workplace ostracism.