My Oppressive Past- and Present-Day Vulnerability: Understanding How and When Authoritarian Leadership Adversely Impacts Black Employees at Work

Abstract Our research contributes to the literature centered on increasing awareness, and understanding the impact, of supervisory leadership on vulnerable employees. Whereas recent scholars have explained the bright side of leadership that is helpful and socio-culturally relevant to vulnerable employees, we complement these prior studies by explaining why a dark side of leadership is harmful and socio-culturally relevant to vulnerable employees. We draw on insights from Black employees’ oppressive past to shed light on their present-day vulnerability in the workplace. Subsequently, we rely on social information processing theory to explain how and when authoritarian leadership impedes Black employees’ ability to thrive at work. We argue that authoritarian leadership is a salient workplace cue that conveys to Black employees that there is significant opposition to them being treated inclusively and fairly. Accordingly, we propose that authoritarian leadership should adversely impact Black employees’ evaluations of psychological diversity climate. In turn, as Black employees believe that they are not welcomed (i.e., evidenced by their evaluations of psychological diversity climate), their ability to thrive at work becomes hindered. We also explain why this is particularly the case for Black employees with relatively low levels of psychological attachment to the organization. We find support for our model across a combination of field and experimental vignette studies. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.