Does LMX always promote employee voice? A dark side of migrant working in Saudi Arabia

Purpose Drawing on the self-consistency theory, this study aims to test a model where employees' supervisor-based self-esteem (SBSE) is positively related their promotive and prohibitive voice mediate positive relationship between leader–member exchange social comparison (LMXSC) of an employee's voice, but only for local rather than migrant workers. Design/methodology/approach To hypotheses, multi-source data were collected from 341 matched supervisor–supervisee dyads working in diverse range organizations Kingdom Saudi Arabia. Findings As predicted, SBSE mediates LMXSC The findings support theory perspective LMX provide new insight into “dark side” – lack voice. Originality/value This responds calls more research that explores roles played by macro-environmental factors Implications practice are discussed.