Does workplace fun reduce job stress? Role of work engagement and job autonomy in the hospitality industry

Drawing on job demand-resource theory and social exchange theory, this study investigates how work engagement mediates the impact of workplace fun on job stress through moderating role of job autonomy in the hospitality industry context. Survey data collected from 384 employees was analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0 to test the hypotheses of the study. The analysis revealed that workplace fun has a negative relationship with the job stress of employees, while work engagement has partial mediation in this relationship. Moreover, job autonomy was found to be a significant moderator in the relationship between workplace fun and employee engagement. The implications for theories and practices, followed by limitations and future directions and concluding remarks, are discussed.