Be a boundaryless good guy! How job embeddedness mediates and organizational identification moderates the associations of boundaryless career attitude with extra-role behaviours

Purpose This paper aims to examine the mediating role of job embeddedness and the moderating role of organizational identification on the relationships between boundaryless career attitude and extra-role behaviours (i.e. organizational citizenship behaviours and counterproductive work behaviours). Design/methodology/approach A two-wave study was carried out on 296 employees from public and private organizations in Italy. Boundaryless career attitude, organizational identification and demographics were measured at Time 1. Four months later (Time 2), job embeddedness, organizational citizenship behaviours and counterproductive work behaviours were assessed. Responses were analysed by means of multigroup structural equation modelling. Findings Job embeddedness mediated the positive relationship between boundaryless career attitude and counterproductive work behaviours, as well as its negative association with organizational citizenship behaviours; organizational identification buffered this latter indirect effect. Practical implications Organizations can promote stronger organizational identification and job embeddedness to retain boundaryless-oriented talent and foster positive extra-role behaviours. Originality/value This study integrated the protean/boundaryless careers literature with organizational behaviour theories to examine contextual factors influencing the effects of these contemporary career attitudes.