Being Proactive for My Family: An Examination of the Impact of Family Motivation on the Proactivity Among Blue‐Collar Employees

ABSTRACT Based on self‐determination theory and the proactive motivation model, we explore the effects of family motivation on proactivity among blue‐collar employees. By referring to a sample of 588 blue‐collar employees from one Chinese company and a three‐wave and leader‐follower dyad design, we find that family motivation promotes the likelihood of proactivity through psychological meaningfulness. In addition, family‐supportive supervisor behaviors strengthen the relationship between family motivation and psychological meaningfulness, and also strengthen the indirect relationship between family motivation and proactivity via psychological meaningfulness. Our study provides a comprehensive insight to understand the relationship between family motivation and proactivity among blue‐collar employees with practical implications for human resource management.