Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are widely implemented to enhance job autonomy. However, the impact of FWAs on employee outcomes remains ambiguous. While prior research has established that job autonomy fosters creativity, the relationship between FWAs and creativity has been underexplored. Drawing on self-determination theory, this study investigates the distinct effects of FWAs — flextime and flexplace — on creativity. We expect flextime is positively related to radical and incremental creativity via sense of responsibility while flexplace is not related to sense of responsibility. Additionally, we propose that sense of responsibility is more strongly linked to radical creativity than to incremental creativity. Based on social exchange theory, we also suggest that constructive and exploitative FWA attributions moderate these indirect effects. To test our hypotheses, we collected data from 170 leader-member dyads. Results show that flextime relates to radical and incremental creativity via sense of responsibility, while flexplace shows no such relationship. Additionally, sense of responsibility is more strongly associated with radical creativity than with incremental creativity. Finally, constructive and exploitative FWA attributions are confirmed as significant moderators of the indirect effects. This study reveals that different dimensions of FWAs impact creativity distinctly.
