Learning from your leaders and helping your coworkers: the trickle-down effect of leader helping behavior

Purpose Based on the social cognitive theory, this research analyzed the helping behavior of leaders and its trickle-down effect on an employee's helping behavior. Additionally, this study analyzed the relationship between an employee's helping behavior and thriving at work. Design/methodology/approach Cellphones were used to collect data using the experience sampling method from 74 participants over five consecutive days ( N = 370), and the conceptual model was analyzed at the episode level. Findings This research examined the helping behavior of employees and its role in mediating the relationship between a leader's helping behavior and an employee's thriving at work. Psychological availability moderates this indirect relationship; and high psychological availability increases the indirect influence of a leader's helping behavior on an employee's helping behavior, which in turn increases employee's thriving at work. Originality/value The findings of this research shed light on a new social cognitive mechanism through which the helping behavior of leaders enhances an employee's thriving at work.