Too much of a green thing? The curvilinear impact of green servant leadership on employee pro-environmental behaviour in luxury hotels

Purpose Previous studies suggest that green servant leadership (GSL) indirectly influences voluntary pro-environmental behaviour (VPEB) among hotel employees. Drawing on job characteristics theory and the “too-much-of-a-good-thing” effect, this study aims to investigate a nonlinear relationship between GSL and employee VPEB, with experienced meaningfulness as the mediating mechanism. Design/methodology/approach Multiwave data collected from 603 employees working in four-andfive star hotels in Macau were analysed using SmartPLS 4. Findings There was an inverted U-shaped relationship between GSL and experienced meaningfulness, while experienced meaningfulness positively influenced VPEB. Experienced meaningfulness mediated the indirect curvilinear relationship between GSL and VPEB. Practical implications While the positive influence of GSL is important in luxury hotels, hotel managers must also be aware of its potential risks. This research implies that managers should adopt appropriate human resources strategies to reach the optimal level of GSL, thereby achieving desired employee green outcomes and corporate social responsibility performance. Originality/value This research extends beyond traditional linear approaches by empirically testing the curvilinear effect of GSL on experienced meaningfulness and subsequent VPEB.