Does abusive supervision undermine creativity? A buffering role of absorptive capacity

This study investigates the underlying processes of this relationship by examining knowledge hiding as a mediator and absorptive capacity as a moderator, within the context of the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory. 385 garment sector employees in Bangladesh were surveyed using a three-wave questionnaire, and the results were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The study's findings demonstrate that abusive supervision negatively impacts employee creativity, in part by increasing knowledge hiding. Furthermore, higher absorptive capacity mitigates these adverse effects, reducing knowledge-hiding tendencies and enhancing creative performance. Theoretically, this study advances COR theory by identifying knowledge hiding as a resource-depleting mechanism and absorptive capacity as a buffering mechanism in the relationship between abusive supervision and employee creativity. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights for organizations seeking to nurture a resilient, creative workforce under challenging supervisory practices.