Supervisor voice rejection is a common phenomenon in workplace settings. However, existing research provides limited clarity on the mechanisms driving subordinates’ divergent responses—both constructive and destructive—to such rejection. Drawing on self-determination theory and integrating insights from the literature on shame, this study investigates how supervisor voice rejection threatens subordinates’ self-worth and social identity, triggering feelings of shame. We further explore how shame activates three distinct behavioral pathways: protection (i.e., counterproductive work behaviors), defense (i.e., displaced aggression toward coworkers), and repair (i.e., continued voice behavior). Using daily data collected from 104 full-time employees over ten consecutive workdays, we tested the proposed model. The results indicate that supervisor voice rejection significantly intensifies subordinates’ feelings of shame, which, in turn, activates these three motivational pathways, leading to distinct behavioral responses. Furthermore, the findings reveal that fear of losing face moderates the relationship between supervisor voice rejection and subordinates’ feelings of shame. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings, acknowledge the study’s limitations, and propose directions for future research.
