How interpersonal conflict with supervisor undermines employees’ taking charge at work – and how trait optimism adds a drop of hope?

Purpose Grounded in the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study investigates how interpersonal conflict with supervisors undermines employees’ taking charge at work through a sequential strain process. Furthermore, the authors examine how interpersonal conflict with a supervisor increases emotional exhaustion, which, in turn, intensifies work alienation and ultimately reduces employees’ willingness to take charge at work. In addition, the study aims to examine how trait optimism acts as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach Two complementary studies were conducted with employees working in service-sector organisations. Study 1 used an experimental vignette design in Cyprus (n = 158). Study 2 used a four-wave, time-lagged survey in China (n = 471) to test the proposed model. Findings Across two studies, the results supported the proposed model. Study 1 showed that interpersonal conflict with supervisors increased emotional exhaustion, which, in turn, enhanced work alienation. Study 2 replicated these findings and confirmed a sequential process in which interpersonal conflict with a supervisor reduced employees’ taking charge at work through employee emotional exhaustion and work alienation. Trait optimism weakened both the conflict–exhaustion link and the overall serial process, supporting the moderated serial mediation model. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on interpersonal conflict and employee proactivity by clarifying how conflict with supervisors can undermine employees’ willingness to take charge at work. It further advances the COR theory by conceptualising emotional exhaustion and work alienation as sequential strain states through which interpersonal conflict with supervisors constrains employees’ ability to take charge. In addition, the study highlights trait optimism as a key personal resource that shapes employees’ responses to conflict-related strain, offering a more nuanced understanding of individual differences in resource-loss processes.