The dark side of leadership: how despotic leadership triggers depression and quiet quitting

Purpose This study explores how despotic leadership affects negative workplace outcomes, including psychological contract violations, moral injury, work-related depression and quiet quitting among employees. By investigating these dynamics, this study aims to illuminate the emotional and psychological costs associated with despotic leadership. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from hotel employees in northern India using convenience sampling. With 359 responses, this study used Smart PLS for hypothesis testing. Findings Results show that despotic leadership is strongly linked to moral injury, psychological contract violation and work-related depression, leading to quiet quitting. Practical implications This study recommends ethical leadership training, open communication and mental health support to mitigate the effects of despotic leadership. Proactive development of a supportive work environment can help reduce quiet quitting behaviours. Originality/value Unlike prior research, this study uniquely examines moral injury and psychological contract violation as mediators, providing a fresh perspective on the pathways linking despotic leadership to quiet quitting. By highlighting underexplored emotional impacts, it offers a novel contribution to leadership literature.