The Impact of Leader–Member Exchange and Innovation Climate on Affective Workplace Outcomes

Background: This study examines how an organization’s climate for innovation influences employees’ affective workplace outcomes through the behavioral mechanism of the innovation process and the quality of Leader-Member Exchange relationships. Methods: Survey data were collected from 567 full-time employees across multiple industries and analyzed using conditional process modeling. Results: Leader-Member Exchange moderated the relationship between climate for innovation and engagement in the innovation process, and the innovation process partially mediated the effect of climate on job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Conclusions: Supportive climates produce stronger affective outcomes when paired with high-quality leader-member exchanges, highlighting the importance of contextual and relational factors in shaping innovation behavior and employee well-being.