What difference a day makes: An examination of dynamic antecedents of voice

Abstract

Research has mostly considered employee voice to be a relatively stable behavior and has examined it primarily on a between-person level. In this work, we reason that existing between-person examinations of voice behavior should be complemented with more within-person assessments. Integrating regulatory focus theory with affective events theory, we hypothesize an affective events model of employee voice. To understand whether and to what extent increases and decreases in job resources and momentary states in relation to the prior day affect voice behavior, we conducted a diary study and use multilevel analysis to analyze the hypotheses in a cross-level moderated mediation model. Results confirm that voice varies within individuals and that, on an intrapersonal level, an increase in job situations increases voice behavior via an increase in positive mood. Employees’ regulatory focus was found to moderate the indirect within-person effects. This work expands the current understanding of employee voice by focusing on a dynamic within-person perspective, explores new determinants at the dynamic level, and extends the knowledge of the interplay of momentary states and personal traits at the workplace.