A multilevel investigation of team relationship conflict and employee-level subjective career success

Purpose

Based on affective event theory (AET), this study aims to unpack the association between team relationship conflict and employees’ subjective career success by examining the mediating role of negative emotions and the moderating role of emotional intelligence.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Mplus 8.1, the study analyzes multi-level, multi-wave data collected from 288 employees in 51 teams across Pakistan.

Findings

The results indicate that team relationship conflict is negatively associated with employees’ subjective career success, both in terms of career satisfaction and job satisfaction. While employees’ negative emotions partially mediate this negative relationship, emotional intelligence moderates the association between team relationship conflict and negative emotions, such that individuals with higher emotional intelligence experience less negative emotions.

Originality/value

This study advances career research by demonstrating how and when team relationship conflict is related to employees’ subjective career success. It also extends current understanding of the mediating and moderating mechanisms behind the association between team relationship conflict and employees’ subjective career success.