Impact of Future Work Self-Salience on Proactive Behaviors: An Integrative and Comparative Study of Multiple Proactive Behaviors

Abstract

The concept of Future Work-Salience (FWSS) plays a pivotal role in ensuring sustainable employability. Previous studies on FWSS have primarily focused on career-related outcomes, neglecting the broader domain of proactive behaviors. Furthermore, the existing literature lacks research that has comprehensively compared and analyzed multiple categories of proactive behavior within the same study. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, the present study aims to examine the effects of FWSS on pro-organizational, prosocial, and pro-self-proactive behaviors via career planning, and the potential moderator of uncertainty avoidance. Data were collected using two-wave questionnaires from 191 Chinese employees and analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results showed that FWSS positively affected pro-organizational, prosocial, and pro-self-proactive behaviors via the mediator of career planning. Uncertainty avoidance weakened the positive effect of career planning on pro-self-proactive behavior, but did not significantly moderate the relationship between career planning and pro-organizational or prosocial–proactive behaviors. This study reveals the positive effects of FWSS on organizations, colleagues, and individuals, as well as the underlying mechanism and boundary conditions. By comparing the similarities and differences among multiple proactive behaviors, the theoretical applications and research scope of proactive behaviors were expanded. Finally, we have provided effective management suggestions for organizations on how to improve employees’ proactive behaviors.