Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20867/thm.30.4.8
Understanding the impact of work environment on employee well-being and cynicism: Insights from the hotel industry
Ahmed Magdy
; Y, PhD, Assistant. Professor, Pharos University in Alexandria; Canal El Mahmoudia Street, Beside Green Plaza Complex, 21648, Alexandria, Egypt Hotel Management Department
*
Islam Elbayoumi Salem
; PhD, Professor College of Economics and Business Administration, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Salalah, Oman; Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Alexandria University, Egypt
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Purpose – The paper aims to deepen the understanding of various psychological and
sociological theories that contend that people prefer to work in a healthy environment that
provide favorable working conditions, such as affective events theory, well-being theory,
leadership theory, and organizational support theory. Therefore, if the hospitality sector does
not provide appropriate working conditions and does not support psychological wellbeing, it
might be difficult to find motivated and devoted employees.
Methodology/Design/Approach – The study used a self-administered questionnaire and
opted for a descriptive-analytical design. Typically, the interviewer or a representative from
an official position hands out this kind of questionnaire to the interviewees. The researcher
contacted 396 front-line staff members at five-star hotels belonging to a chain in the most
popular tourist areas in Egypt. The data were analysed using the Smart PLS statistical program
to test the study hypotheses.
Findings – The paper provides insights into how toxic leadership negatively influences
employee wellbeing and positively influences behavioural cynicism. In addition, employee
silence significantly moderates the relationship concerning toxic leadership and employees’
outcomes (wellbeing and behavioural cynicism). These results raise a number of theoretical
and practical implications for hospitality practitioners.
Originality of the research – This paper fulfils an identified need to study various psychological
and sociological theories in the hospitality context to give more understanding of how
employee silence maximizes the negative consequences upon wellbeing. Furthermore, justifies
employees’ behavioural cynicism as a sign of indulging in a toxic leadership. Additionally,
in the academic literature on hospitality, this study is one of the very few that investigated
behavioural cynicism consequences and considered employee silence as a moderator.
Keywords
Toxic leadership, Employee silence, Employee wellbeing, Behavioral cynicism
Hrčak ID:
322039
URI
Publication date:
5.7.2024.
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