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Linking despotic leadership to employee lateness and early departure: the mediating role of affective commitment

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Listed:
  • Clifford Bennet Essel

    (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)

  • Augustine Osei Boakye

    (Ghana Communication Technology University)

  • Christopher Dick-Sagoe

    (University of Botswana
    University of South Africa)

Abstract

Despotic leadership, a dark side of leadership, negatively affects employees and organizations due to its unethical nature. Drawing on social exchange theory’s prediction, the study analysed the effects of despotic leadership on employee lateness and the intention to leave work early, with a particular focus on the mediating role of affective commitment in this relationship. A quantitative approach was adopted, with 153 respondents selected through a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression, employing SPSS version 27 and PROCESS Macro as analytical tools. The findings indicate that despotic leadership has a significant positive influence on the intention to leave work early. Despotic leadership also had significantly and positively increased employee lateness to work. Furthermore, affective commitment was found to positively mediate the relationship between despotic leadership and both lateness and the intention to leave work early. The study suggests that organizations should work to reduce despotic leadership behaviours and promote alternative leadership styles, such as democratic, ethical, and transformational leadership, while nurturing a collaborative and supportive culture.

Suggested Citation

  • Clifford Bennet Essel & Augustine Osei Boakye & Christopher Dick-Sagoe, 2025. "Linking despotic leadership to employee lateness and early departure: the mediating role of affective commitment," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 5(9), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:snbeco:v:5:y:2025:i:9:d:10.1007_s43546-025-00906-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s43546-025-00906-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. De Clercq, Dirk & Azeem, Muhammad Umer & Haq, Inam Ul & Bouckenooghe, Dave, 2020. "The stress-reducing effect of coworker support on turnover intentions: Moderation by political ineptness and despotic leadership," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 12-24.
    2. Xiang Zhou & Samma Faiz Rasool & Jing Yang & Muhammad Zaheer Asghar, 2021. "Exploring the Relationship between Despotic Leadership and Job Satisfaction: The Role of Self Efficacy and Leader–Member Exchange," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-20, May.
    3. Udin Udin & Radyan Dananjoyo & Mohsin Shaikh & Densy Vio Linarta, 2022. "Islamic Work Ethics, Affective Commitment, and Employee’s Performance in Family Business: Testing Their Relationships," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
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