Bridging the Virtual Divide: Psychological Safety and Organizational Support in China's Hybrid Internet Workplaces

Abstract

This study explores the connections between psychological safety, perceived organizational support, organizational citizenship behavior, and employee performance within the hybrid work environment of China's Internet industry. As organizations rapidly transition to hybrid work models, understanding these relationships has become essential for maintaining organizational effectiveness. A quantitative approach was used, with structural equation modeling applied to data from 458 employees in Chinese Internet companies. The findings reveal strong positive correlations between psychological safety, perceived organizational support, and both organizational citizenship behavior and employee performance. Notably, organizational citizenship behavior partially mediates the relationships between psychological safety, perceived organizational support, and employee performance. The study extends Conservation of Resources theory to hybrid work contexts, offering new insights into the significance of psychological safety in such settings. The results suggest that promoting psychological safety and organizational support is essential in hybrid work environments, with psychological safety having a particularly strong impact on organizational citizenship behavior (β = 0.57, p<0.001). These findings provide useful guidance for managers aiming to enhance employee experience and performance in the evolving work landscape, highlighting the importance of fostering a supportive organizational atmosphere in hybrid models.