Does one’s sense of psychological safety mitigate the link between workplace ostracism and employee vitality? Meaningful work as a boundary role

Abstract

The present study examines one’s sense of psychological safety as a mediator between workplace ostracism and vitality. It also tests meaningful work as a moderator between one’s sense of psychological safety and vitality. The present research collected cross-sectional data applying purposive and convenience sampling from 390 frontline hotel employees in Thailand. Workplace ostracism has a negative impact on one’s sense of psychological safety and vitality. One’s sense of psychological safety mediates the connection between workplace ostracism and vitality, and meaningful work positively moderates the association between one’s sense of psychological safety and vitality. These findings not only expand upon the conservation of resources (COR) theory and confirm the mediating role of psychological safety but also extend value congruence theory by moderating the role of meaningful work. The study highlights to increase meaningful work and one’s sense of psychological safety to improve vitality, and the strategies to minimize workplace ostracism.