Role of empowering leadership as a mediator between HPWPs and Gen Y employee engagement: evidence from Indian hotels

Purpose This study evaluated the bundled impact of high performance work practices (HPWPs) on Generation Y (Gen Y) employee engagement (EE) while considering empowering leadership (EL) as a mediator. Design/methodology/approach The data for the study are received from 404 Gen Y frontline service employees from three to five star Indian hotels and examined using structural equation modeling. Findings Gen Y employees' perception of HPWPs directly explains their engagement, and EL partially mediates the link between HPWPs and Gen Y EE. Research limitations/implications This study suggests managers to gain from implementing HPWPs and their impact on Gen Y engagement to boost their organizational performance. Practical implications This study suggests managers to gain from implementing HPWPs and their impact on Gen Y EE to boost their employee and hotel's performance. Originality/value The present research is one of the few attempts to study how HPWPs can engage the Gen Y cohort in the workplace, especially in developing countries (i.e. India).