Playful work design, flow, and employee creativity

This study explores the impact of playful work design on employee creativity through flow, as well as the moderating role of playful climate in this relationship. We collected data from 272 employees across various industries in China (47.2% from the service industry; 61.8% female; 63.6% aged 26–40 years). Participants completed measures of playful work design, flow, playful climate, and creativity. Through hierarchical regression and bootstrapping analyses, the results indicate that: (a) playful work design is positively associated with creativity; (b) flow mediates this relationship; and (c) playful climate strengthens the link between playful work design and flow, thereby enhancing employee creativity. These findings support work flow theory by demonstrating that playful work design satisfies employees’ basic psychological needs, stimulates intrinsic motivation, and ultimately induces flow to enhance creativity. For practical implications, managers should prioritize employees’ work experience, monitor their flow states, and foster a playful climate.