Enhancing job embeddedness through fun: the mediating role of vigor at work in Chinese higher education

Purpose This study aims to investigate the influence of supervisor support for fun, coworker humor and workplace fun activities on job embeddedness among employees in Chinese higher education institutions (HEIs) and examine the mediating role of vigor at work in these relationships. Grounded in the broaden-and-build theory, this research addresses a relatively underexplored nexus within HEIs, where formal hierarchies may shape the connection between fun-related factors and employee retention outcomes. Design/methodology/approach A total of 225 valid responses were collected through a self-administered questionnaire targeting employees in Chinese HEIs. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM) to test both direct and mediating relationships. Findings The results reveal that fun-related factors, supervisor support for fun, coworker humor and workplace fun activities positively influence vigor at work, which in turn significantly enhances job embeddedness. Furthermore, vigor at work fully mediates the relationships between these fun-related factors and job embeddedness. Practical implications The findings suggest that HEIs can strengthen employee job embeddedness by fostering a fun and vigorous work environment. Administrators are encouraged to promote humor, implement enjoyable workplace activities and support employees’ psychological energy to retain talent and enhance institutional performance. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by linking fun-related constructs with employee attachment within a collectivist, institutional Chinese context. The findings provide novel insights and directions for comparative studies across cultural and organizational settings.