More identification, less pain? Leader identification helps followers reduce burnout when facing leader workaholism

Purpose This study investigates whether and how leader identification attenuates the effects of leader workaholism on follower obsessive passion and subsequent burnout. Although prior research has documented the harmful consequences of leader workaholism on followers, less is known about when followers themselves may be able to buffer these effects. By adopting a recipient-centric perspective, this study identifies a potentially actionable means of reducing the mental health costs of leader workaholism for followers and protecting employee well-being. Design/methodology/approach A multi-wave field study was conducted among 292 full-time employees to examine how leader workaholism and leader identification influence followers’ obsessive passion and burnout. Findings Leader identification attenuates the positive relationship between leader workaholism and follower obsessive passion, thereby weakening the positive indirect effect of leader workaholism on burnout. Practical implications Organizations should monitor and manage not only leaders’ workaholic tendencies but also followers’ signs of obsessive passion, while fostering healthy and bounded leader identification to reduce the mental health risks that leader workaholism poses to followers. Originality/value This research extends prior work that has primarily documented the negative implications of leader workaholism for follower mental health by showing that follower reactions may vary. It also provides initial evidence for important nuances within controlled motivation in the SDT framework.