Coping with Supervisor Bottom-Line Mentality: The Mediating role of Job Insecurity and the Moderating Role of Supervisory Power

According to the transactional model of stress and coping, this study explores how and when supervisor bottom-line mentality (BLM) affects subordinate unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB), considering the role of job insecurity and supervisory power. The results from a three-wave field survey of 215 employees from five Chinese companies indicate that subordinate job insecurity mediates the positive relationship between supervisor BLM and subordinate UPB. Moreover, supervisory power positively moderates the relationship between supervisor BLM and job insecurity such that the relationship is strengthened when supervisory power is higher. Furthermore, supervisory power positively moderates the mediating effect of job insecurity on the relationship between supervisor BLM and subordinate UPB such that this indirect effect is strengthened when supervisory power is higher. The theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.