Linking Exploitative Leadership with Employee Time Theft: A Study of the Hospitality Sector of Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigated the link between exploitative leadership (EL) and time theft (TT), with the mediating role of work alienation (WA) and the moderating effect of professional commitment (PC).  This study collected data through a self-administered questionnaire from 328 frontline hospitality employees and their managers working in two to five-star hotels in Pakistan. A quantitative research design along with the positivism paradigm and the deductive approach were used. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for quantitative data analysis in smart PLS 4. The results show that EL is positively related to employee TT through WA. The results also show that PC moderates the relationship between EL and WA.