Perceived overqualification and innovative behavior in Chinese employees

We examined the influence mechanism of individual employees’ perceived overqualification on their innovative behaviors, focusing on the mediating role of the pressure to maintain face in terms of capability, and the moderating effect of team overqualification. Empirical analysis of data from 327 employees of logistics companies revealed a positive relationship between individual employees’ perceived overqualification and their innovative behaviors, in which the pressure to maintain face played a critical mediating role. Individual employees with overqualification engaged in innovative behaviors to avoid any decline in the perception of their professional status or significance as viewed by others. Furthermore, team overqualification suppressed the positive effect of individual employees’ perceived overqualification on innovative behaviors. This study enriches existing theoretical frameworks and provides new perspectives and strategic recommendations for managers on how to effectively utilize and adjust the capabilities of overqualified employees.