Harmonious job passion and employee championing behavior: roles of transformational leadership and job engagement

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between harmonious job passion and employee championing behavior. Furthermore, it looks at whether this relationship is moderated by transformational leadership and mediated by job engagement. Design/methodology/approach The study draws on survey data from 170 individuals working in the hospitality industry sector. Data are analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings Results show that harmonious job passion is positively associated with employee championing behavior and this relationship is (positively) moderated by transformational leadership. Furthermore, job engagement (positively) mediates harmonious job passion and employee championing behavior relationship. Originality/value While research examines the outcomes of harmonious job passion, its influences with regard to employee championing behavior are not well understood. This study proposes transformational leadership and employee engagement as underlying mechanisms between the stated relationship suggesting how hospitality industry firms can benefit from developing an environment where employees feel passionate about their work and perform better.