Assessing the Spillover Effect of Despotic Leadership on an Employee’s Personal Life in the Form of Family Incivility: Serial Mediation of Psychological Distress and Emotional Exhaustion

The current study explores the relationship between despotic leadership and family incivility suggesting a serial mediation of psychological distress and emotional exhaustion. The survey approach was used to collect data through a two-wave time-lag approach. Drawing on a sample of 306 employees from public sector banks, hypotheses were examined using structural equation modelling. Results show that despotic leadership causes employees to experience intense feelings as they become emotionally ambivalent towards their families. Organizations can foster healthier work environments, alleviate employee distress, and promote positive family interactions by ensuring leadership development and training.