Examining humor’s impact on organizational citizenship behavior and deviance: the mediating role of positive affect and the moderating role of agreeableness

Although the significance of humor in professional settings has been explored in various contexts, its dual influence on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and workplace deviance remains underexamined. This study fills this gap by investigating how employees’ sense of humor affects both positive and negative behaviors in the workplace, using affective theories of humor alongside the Big Five personality traits as a foundation. Analyzing data from 192 employees, our results indicate that positive emotions play a pivotal role in connecting an employee’s sense of humor with these diverse outcomes. Specifically, positive emotions encourage OCB while simultaneously discouraging workplace deviance. Furthermore, our research demonstrates that agreeableness, a key aspect of the Big Five personality model, enhances the positive impact of humor on OCB, particularly in individuals who score higher in agreeableness. This research offers important insights for organizations aiming to cultivate a supportive work environment and reduce undesirable behaviors, suggesting that fostering positive humor and nurturing agreeable personality traits among employees could be effective strategies.