Does job stress affect innovative behaviors? Evidence from dubai five-star hotels

Drawing on Cognitive Appraisal and Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theories, this study examines how job stress and work-related curiosity may affect employee’s innovative behavior. The study utilized two-wave longitudinal data collected from 311 frontline employees from five-star hotels in the UAE. The study found that employees who demonstrated curiosity about different aspects of their work were more likely to engage in innovative behavior. On the other hand, stress was observed to have a different effect. The negative effect of job stress on innovative behavior tended to become positive and significant when curiosity was part of the response to stress.