Leading with laughter: the impact of ebullient supervision on commitment to organizational career and employee time theft via psychological distress

Ebullient supervision, a leadership style characterized by enthusiasm, positivity, and a fun work environment, is gaining recognition for its influence on employee outcomes. Drawing on conservation of resources and social exchange theories, this study examines the effects of ebullient supervision on psychological distress, commitment to organizational career, and employee time theft, with psychological distress serving as a mediator. Time-lagged data were collected in two waves from 238 full-time employees across industries in the United States. The study employed regression and mediation analysis via PROCESS in SmartPLS, importance-performance map analysis (IPMA), and necessary condition analysis (NCA). The results show that ebullient supervision significantly reduces psychological distress and enhances commitment to organizational career, with an overall negative effect on time theft. Psychological distress negatively predicts commitment to organizational career and positively predicts time theft. Mediation analysis confirms that psychological distress partially mediates the relationship between ebullient supervision and commitment to organizational career and fully mediates its link with time theft. Findings from IPMA and NCA further support the importance and necessity of ebullient supervision for fostering positive workplace outcomes. The study contributes to leadership literature and offers practical guidance for promoting well-being, reducing deviant behavior, and enhancing career engagement in the workplace.