THE IMPACT OF LEADER-MEMBER EXCHANGE ON JOB EMBEDDEDNESS: MEDIATING ROLE OF EMPLOYEE ADVOCACY IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

Abstract

In Sri Lanka, empirical studies on leader-member exchange, job embeddedness, and employee advocacy are still limited. There is a clear gap within this research that must be addressed, namely by examining the impact of Leader-Member Exchange on job embeddedness and examining the mediating influence of employee advocacy within the hotel industry. This study aims to identify the impact of leader-member exchange on job embeddedness; to analyze the impact of leader-member exchange on employee advocacy; to identify the impact of employee advocacy on job embeddedness; and to verify the mediating role of employee advocacy between leader-member exchange and job embeddedness. To achieve these objectives, questionnaires were given to a sample of 345 operational-level employees in star-rated hotels in the Chilaw zone of the Puttalam District. 230 completed questionnaires were collected using a stratified random sampling method. Simple linear regression analysis and Regression-Based Mediation Analysis using the PROESS Macro were applied to test the data. A positive relationship was found between leader-member exchange and job embeddedness. Furthermore, it was revealed in the findings that leader-member exchange positively impacts employee advocacy in the hotel industry. Further, employee advocacy was found to have a positive impact on job embeddedness. Mediation analysis confirmed that employee advocacy significantly mediates the relationship between leader member exchange and job embeddedness. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the hotel industry be keen to develop employee advocacy, because it boosts the relationship between leader-member exchange and job embeddedness. This, in turn, can help organizations attain a competitive advantage as well as promote their employer brand effectively.