Linking high-performance work systems and happiness at work: role of career aspiration and thriving

PurposeThis study utilizes self-determination theory (SDT) to understand how high-performance work systems (HPWS) may foster happiness at work through serial transmission pathways of career aspiration and thriving at work.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses data collected from a sample of 309 employees working in various organizations. It uses multilevel, multisource and time-lagged data and applied Mplus 8.0 for hypotheses testing.FindingsThe study findings reveal a positive relationship between HPWS and career aspiration. Career aspiration was positively related to thriving at work and thriving at work was positively associated with happiness at work. Moreover, career aspiration mediated the relationship between HPWS and thriving at work. Whereas, thriving at work mediated the relationship between career aspiration and happiness at work. The results also support the serial mediation of career aspiration and thriving at work between HPWS and happiness at work.Practical implicationsThe findings have important implications for organizational practice. Practitioners should consider implementing pro-employee HPWS to support employees' career aspirations and enhance their thriving experience, which may increase their happiness at work.Originality/valueThis is one of the few studies investigating individual-level serial mediators between departmental-level HPWS and employee happiness at work.