COVID-19-induced layoff, survivors' COVID-19-related stress and performance in hospitality industry: The moderating role of social support

Yidong Tu; Diwan Li; Hai-Jiang Wang

doi:10.1016/j.ijhm.2021.102912

COVID-19-induced layoff, survivors' COVID-19-related stress and performance in hospitality industry: The moderating role of social support

Int J Hosp Manag. 2021 May:95:102912. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2021.102912. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Authors

Yidong Tu¹, Diwan Li², Hai-Jiang Wang³

Affiliations

¹ School of Economics and Management, Wuhan University, Bayi Road, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
² Faculty of Business, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
³ School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Rd, Hongshan, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the hospitality industry hard globally, resulting in millions of employees being laid off. Drawing upon the conservation of resources theory, this study aims to empirically examine how and when COVID-19-induced layoff influences employees' in-role and extra-role performance in the hospitality industry. We tested this model by using field data collected from 302 employees and their supervisors in China across two waves. Results revealed that COVID-19-induced layoff increases survivors' COVID-19-related stress, which in turn leads to decreased in-role and extra-role performance. The strength of these indirect effects is mitigated by perceived family support against COVID-19. Unexpectedly, perceived organizational support against COVID-19 intensifies these indirect effects. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are further discussed.

Keywords: COVID-19-induced layoff; COVID-19-related stress; Job performance; Social support.