Nature's Gift, Job's Shift: Exploring the Impact of Nature Exposure at Work on Job Crafting

Abstract

Existing research on nature exposure at work primarily focuses on attention and resource restoration, often placing individuals in a passive or static role. However, this perspective overlooks the affective mechanisms that underlie the impact of nature exposure on individual proactive behaviours, such as job crafting. Drawing on affective events theory, this study investigates the effect of nature exposure at work on job crafting through workplace attachment and examines the moderating role of the job-growth mindset. Study 1 utilised a three-wave survey with 368 employees, which found that nature exposure positively influences job crafting via workplace attachment, with the job-growth mindset moderating this relationship. Study 2 employed an experimental mediation approach with 235 employees, providing evidence of the causal relationship between nature exposure and job crafting, as well as the mediating role of workplace attachment. This research offers both theoretical insights and practical implications for integrating natural elements into workplace design to foster employee job crafting.