How does perceived overqualification beget workplace incivility? A moderated mediation model based on Kahn’s framework

Abstract

We introduce a comprehensive framework to investigate the influence of perceived overqualification (POQ) on workplace incivility. Building upon Kahn’s theoretical framework for engagement, our study proposes that POQ hinders the fulfillment of three psychological conditions—specifically, psychological meaningfulness, psychological safety, and emotional exhaustion—thereby impacting the emergence of instigated incivility in the workplace. Moreover, we hypothesize varying contributions of these psychological conditions in elucidating the relationship between POQ and instigated incivility. Notably, psychological menaingfulness and emotional exhaustion are likely to provide more substantial explanations for POQ-incivility relation. Additionally, we posit that ethical leadership plays a pivotal role in mitigating the detrimental effects of POQ on instigated incivility. Through the implementation of two multi-wave and multi-level field studies, along with an experiment, our hypotheses were supported. This research not only advances the theoretical comprehension of POQ but also carries substantial implications for addressing both POQ and workplace incivility.