Echoes of integrity: how and when leader integrity influences employee moral voice?

Purpose This study aims to investigate leader integrity – a trait deeply rooted in Chinese cultural values – as a key antecedent of employee moral voice, examining how and when leader integrity influences this outcome. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 223 employees from various Chinese companies by using a multiwave survey design. Hypotheses were tested by adopting hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrapping analysis. Findings Results show that leader integrity positively affects employee moral voice via moral efficacy, moral courage and organizational identification. Moreover, these three constructs function as a chain of mediators, sequentially transmitting the influence of leader integrity on employee moral voice. In addition, the perceived ethical climate acts as a substitution for leader integrity and negatively moderates the effects of leader integrity on employees’ moral efficacy, moral courage and organizational identification. Originality/value Despite the critical role of employee moral voice in organizational development, there has been limited exploration into how leader traits shape such behaviors. This study contributes to the literature on employee moral voice and Chinese leadership.