Abstract
This study investigates a hitherto unexplored relationship between supervisor knowledge hiding and subordinates’ ability to meet work-related deadlines. Additionally, it examines the roles of psychological detachment (as an underlying mechanism) and religiousness (as a moderator) in this process. The findings across two studies– a three-round time-lagged field study and a vignette-based experiment –provide support for our predictions. The results of both studies indicate that an important reason why supervisors’ knowledge-hiding behavior (SKHB) undermines their subordinates’ ability to meet work-related deadlines is that subordinates detach themselves from their work environment. Moreover, religiousness serves as a catalyst for invigorating this relationship; that is, SKHB might be particularly upsetting for highly religious employees because they see it as antithetical to their religious beliefs and consider it a sinful act. The findings of this study provide pertinent insights for organizations and policy-makers to counter knowledge hiding across all hierarchical levels of the organization.