Navigating the nuances of relational contract breaches and workplace conflicts on psychological safety

Purpose The current study intends to assess how relational psychological contracts are linked to psychological safety, as well as the role of psychological safety in mitigating relational contract breaches and workplace conflicts. Design/methodology/approach Data collection was based on a cross-sectional design involving 266 service sector professionals from the Indian cities of Pune and Mumbai. Data were analysed by employing the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique with the help of SmartPLS 4.0 software. Findings The results outline that relational psychological contracts and relational contract breaches are positively and negatively associated with psychological safety, respectively. Furthermore, relational contract breaches are positively linked to relationship as well as task conflicts, and the mediating role of relationship conflict between relational contract breaches and task conflicts has also been evidenced. Research limitations/implications Although studies have assessed how workplace conflicts may cause psychological contract breaches, this study is one of the pioneering studies taking into consideration how relational contract breaches may progress into relationship as well as task conflicts. Thus, this study offers several theoretical implications by unveiling critical variables that trigger workplace conflicts. Originality/value Through a holistic understanding of psychological contract breaches, organisations can focus on fostering open and transparent communication channels by attempting to align employees’ expectations with organisational commitments. Additionally, although the literature on conflicts has explored the co-occurrence of task and relationship conflicts, this study sheds light on the nuances of psychological contracts and workplace conflicts by exploring the mediating role of relationship conflicts between relational contract breaches and task conflicts.