Leader psychopathy and workplace emotional exhaustion: An illustration of uneven distribution of psychosocial hazards within organisations

Abstract

Drawing on Dark Triad literatures, this study examines the influence of leader psychopathy on the emotional exhaustion of their subordinates. While previous studies have reported on the negative effects of leader psychopathy on subordinates’ work outcomes, to date there has been a scarcity of studies examining how the burden of psychosocial leadership hazards falls across the workforce. The aim of this study is to investigate how evenly—if at all—it is distributed across gender, age, and hierarchical position. Based on a sample of 1192 Australian employees, the study finds a stronger influence of leader psychopathy on levels of emotional exhaustion among female employees than among males, yet this is moderated by hierarchical status. Although leader psychopathy is found to positively influence emotional exhaustion across all age groups, the effect is stronger for older employees and those with managerial responsibilities. The study contributes to current literature and practice by identifying how leader psychopathy contributes to increased emotional exhaustion among specific groups of employees, providing insights for workplace practitioners and policy makers.