Humour in managerial computer-mediated requests: task-contingent effects on employee compliance

Purpose Mandatory managerial requests are increasingly communicated through digital channels, yet such messages often risk resistance and disengagement. This study examines whether humorous managerial computer-mediated communication (CMC) increases employees' intention to comply with mandatory tasks and identifies the psychological routes through which humour operates under different task demands. Design/methodology/approach A between-subjects experiment (N = 936) manipulated humour (humorous vs neutral message) and task difficulty (easy vs hard). Guided by Fogg's Behavior Model (FBM) as a conceptual lens and behavioural framework, we tested whether humour influences intention via motivation and perceived ability under different task demands, and whether perceived time and effort condition these effects. Findings Humour increased intention to comply across task types. For easy tasks, the effect was transmitted primarily through increased motivation and was stronger when perceived time and effort were low. For hard tasks, humour influenced intention mainly by enhancing perceived ability, with no moderating role of time or effort. These findings indicate that humour functions through distinct psychological routes depending on task demands. Originality/value The study extends research on managerial humour by focusing on mandatory tasks and demonstrating that humour acts as a task-contingent trigger that motivates under low demands and facilitates perceived ability under high demands.