Workplace fun and voice behavior: The mediating role of psychological safety

Abstract

We proposed a theoretical model explaining why workplace fun might enhance the proactive behavior of employee voice, and explored the mediating role of psychological safety in this relationship. Data were collected from a sample of 223 part-time students at three universities located in China, who were taking a Master of Business Administration course. The results of structural equation modeling show that workplace fun had a direct, significantly positive relationship with employee voice behavior, and that there was also an indirect effect through the mediator of psychological safety. These findings shed light on the ways in which workplace fun helps to increase employee voice behavior. Managers of organizations should consider ways to create a work environment that is fun to promote employees' psychological safety and voice behavior. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.