The Moderating Role of Leadership Style on the Relationship Between Job Stress, Emotional Intelligence and Deviant Workplace Behavior

Abstract

Leadership style, work stress, and emotional intelligence are important variables that influence employee behavior including deviant workplace behavior that can affect organizational performance. This study investigates the effect of work stress, and emotional intelligence on deviant behavior in the workplace, and the moderating role of leadership style in the two relationships. Using multiple regression analysis and moderation regression analysis, this study involved 124 employees from KPP Pratama Magelang, Temanggung, and Klaten who served as Account Representatives. The results show that work stress has a significant positive effect on deviant behavior in the workplace, and emotional intelligence has a significant negative effect on deviant behavior in the workplace. Meanwhile the leadership style moderates the relationship between work stress and deviant behavior in the workplace, and moderates the relationship between emotional intelligence and deviant behavior in the workplace. The contribution of this study is to the managerial policy scenario and the development of employee competency standards. The paper concludes with a discussion of the results and implications for academics and managers.