Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, China
This research explores the relationship between workplace fun and innovative behavior, focusing on both direct and mediated pathways within the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model framework. Specifically, the study investigates how workplace fun influences innovative behavior directly and indirectly through perceived quantitative workload and work engagement. Data were collected in three waves from 350 employees across various sectors in Chinese firms. The findings confirm that workplace fun not only has a direct positive effect on innovative behavior but also impacts it indirectly. Perceived quantitative workload serves as a single mediator, and a serial mediation pathway involving both workload and work engagement is also significant. These results underscore the dual role of workplace fun as both a job resource and a source of job demands, particularly highlighting the positive implications of challenge demands on work outcomes. The study offers practical insights for managers on leveraging workplace fun to foster an innovative and engaging work environment.
