Work drains them, family heals them: How and when interpersonal conflicts at work drive unsafe behavior in the high-risk industry?

Abstract

Unsafe behaviors in high-risk industries are widely recognized as a major hazard, however, limited attention has been given to how and when interpersonal dynamics within organizations lead to the emergence of unsafe behavior by workers. Drawing from the theory of conservation of resources, this study examines the relationship between interpersonal conflict (between supervisors and coworkers) and unsafe behavior. A comprehensive theoretical framework is developed that demonstrates the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and the moderating role of family–work enrichment in the relationship between interpersonal conflict at work and unsafe behavior. Through an analysis of multi-wave data from 249 frontline miners in Chinese coal mines, a direct positive relationship is found between interpersonal conflicts with one’s supervisor and employees’ unsafe behavior. Emotional exhaustion was also found to play a mediating role in the relationship between interpersonal conflict with supervisors and coworkers and unsafe behavior. Meanwhile, family–work enrichment was found to buffer the positive relationship between interpersonal conflict and emotional exhaustion. These results support the existence of moderated mediation effects, with interpersonal conflict having an indirect effect on unsafe behavior through emotional exhaustion being present only in employees with a low level of family–work enrichment. The theoretical model demonstrates how and when interpersonal conflict drives unsafe behavior and provides guidance and practical implications for high-risk industries.