Illegitimate tasks and knowledge hiding: the mediating role of psychological contract violation and moderating role of optimism

Purpose Based on social exchange theory (SET), the current research aims to investigate the relationship between illegitimate tasks (ITs) and employees’ knowledge-hiding behavior (KHB), incorporating the mediating role of psychological contract violation (PCV) and the moderating role of optimism. Design/methodology/approach A two-wave time-lagged survey was conducted to collect data from 196 adult Chinese full-time employees. Findings ITs were positively related to KHB, and this relationship was mediated by PCV. Furthermore, optimism buffered the connection between ITs and PCV as well as the mediating effect of PCV on the relationship between ITs and KHB. Practical implications For managers, this study made them aware of the hidden costs of ITs; that is, employees may respond by concealing knowledge in the organization. Originality/value This study provides a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between ITs and employees’ subtle deviant behavior, KHB and hitherto unspecified mediating and moderating factors that explain this process.