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Why leader empathy backfires: relative LMX and leader work meaningfulness in predicting unethical pro-organizational behaviors

Wen Chang et al.

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management2026https://doi.org/10.1108/ijchm-06-2025-0937article
AJG 3ABDC A
Weight
0.37

Abstract

Purpose Although leader empathy has long been argued to enhance leader–member relationships (LMX) and promote positive employee behaviors, its potential negative consequences, such as promoting unethical behaviors, remain unexplored. Drawing on social exchange theory, this study aims to examine how leader empathy can prompt employees’ unethical pro-organizational behaviors (UPB). Specifically, this study proposes that leader empathy enhances employees’ relative LMX (RLMX), which in turn facilitates UPB. Furthermore, the study theorizes that leaders’ work meaningfulness serves as a critical boundary condition, guiding employees’ ethical decisions and reducing the unethical reciprocity. Design/methodology/approach Survey data were collected from 275 Chinese hotel employees working under 58 leaders. The model was tested using multilevel modeling in Mplus. Findings The results support the mediation model, indicating that leader empathy increases UPB via RLMX. Furthermore, the moderated mediation model is supported, with the leader’s work meaningfulness mitigating the positive relationship between RLMX and employee UPB. Originality/value By demonstrating the impact of leader empathy on employee UPB, this study contributes to the research on leader empathy, highlighting its unintentional negative consequences. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to examine RLMX, providing novel insights into the leader–follower relationship within a team dynamic. It also shifts the focus of previous work on meaningfulness from employees to leaders, showing its spillover effects.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/ijchm-06-2025-0937

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@article{wen2026,
  title        = {{Why leader empathy backfires: relative LMX and leader work meaningfulness in predicting unethical pro-organizational behaviors}},
  author       = {Wen Chang et al.},
  journal      = {International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/ijchm-06-2025-0937},
}

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Evidence weight

0.37

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.16 × 0.4 = 0.06
M · momentum0.53 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.