The Study Of Perceived Overqualification On Employees’ OCBs

Research has found ambiguous results regarding the influence of overqualification on employee organizational citizenship behaviors, suggesting the existence of boundary conditions for such an influence. On one hand, using resource conservation theory as the theoretical basis, we explored the moderating effect of autonomy on the relationship between perceived overqualification and OCBs. On the other hand, based on the relative deprivation theory and equity theory, the moderating role of peer overqualification on the relationship between overqualification and OCBs is examined. Combining two complementary paths, we provide insights to the questions about whether, when and how overqualification influences employee OCBs. Furthermore, we clarify the relations and differences of three main perspectives in predicting overqualified employees’ psychological states and work behaviors to guide the future researchers.Focusing on the above research purposes, we tested the theoretical model with survey data gathered in several corporations in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province.252pieces of valid questionnaires were finally collected. Then, SPSS, Lisrel and Mplus were employed to analyze the data to test the research hypotheses. The main conclusions of this study are:(1) In the sample of the current research, perceived overqualification is negatively related to employee organizational citizenship behaviors;(2) Autonomy moderates the indirect relationship between perceived overqualification and OCBs via psychological availability. Specifically, when autonomy is high, the overqualified employees are more likely to reduce their psychological resources invested in thier work, and have demonstrated lower level of OCBs;(3) Peer overqualification moderates the indirect relationship between perceived overqualification and OCBs via social alienation. In other words, when peers are less overqualified than the employee, he or she feels greater social alienation to the peers, and has manifested lower level of OCBs. At last, we discuss the theoretical and managerial implications. The disadvantages of the paper and trends of future research are also discussed and explored.