Reciprocal helping behaviors via resource gains: moderating roles of food and feedback

Purpose This study aims to propose a model in which workplace resources foster the exchange of other resources through coworkers’ reciprocal helping behavior, drawing on the resource gain spiral from conservation of resources (COR) theory. Specifically, the author extended the resource gain spiral by examining two contextual conditions: the perceived quality of employer-provided lunch meals and supervisory performance feedback. Design/methodology/approach The author used an experience-sampling method in which 158 employees completed a daily diary survey for ten consecutive workdays. Multilevel path analyses were conducted, testing bivariate relationships and mediation effects at the within-person level (Level 1) and moderating effects at the between-person level (Level 2). Findings Results showed that employees who received instrumental and emotional help from coworkers experienced greater emotional energy (i.e. increased work engagement), which subsequently motivated them to provide help in return, thereby supporting the resource gain spiral from COR theory. Moreover, lunch meal quality and supervisors’ constructive feedback facilitated this process. Originality/value Although prior research has examined the resource gain spiral in COR theory, the author extends this framework by highlighting the pivotal role of lunch meal quality in strengthening the link between receiving help and work engagement. Furthermore, the author advances COR theory by demonstrating that supervisors’ constructive feedback amplifies the effect of work engagement on providing help.