Complementary and compensatory job resources for work engagement and innovative work behaviour

This study investigates the interplay between job resources and Information Technology (IT) employees’ work engagement and innovative work behaviour under varying levels of workload and ethical climate. Using the Differentiated Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model as a theoretical framework, the research examines how these resources interact to influence engagement, focusing on complementary and compensatory relationships. Data were collected from 377 IT professionals in India through a structured survey instrument, and hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression analysis. The findings reveal that transformational leadership and psychological capital are positively associated with work engagement. High workloads amplify these effects, emphasising their role as challenging demands. While ethical climate amplifies the relationship between psychological capital and work engagement, it weakens the relationship between transformational leadership and work engagement. Importantly, ethical climate enhances the positive association between engagement and innovative work behaviour. Our study contributes novel insights by exploring boundary conditions that affect engagement outcomes, enriching the JD-R framework. Practically, it highlights strategies for IT managers to foster engagement through tailored resource allocation, emphasising the synergy of complementary resources and the buffering effect of compensatory ones. These findings underscore the importance of designing supportive work environments to sustain innovation at IT workplaces.