The purpose of this study is to explore how employees can improve their safety behaviors by considering microbreak activities as a strategy for recovering cognitive resources at work. Drawing on the principles of resource conservation theory, this study delves into the relationship between microbreak activities and safety behavior, explores the mediating role of absorption in this relationship, and examines the moderating role of work-related rumination.
Multilevel data from 110 construction workers across ten consecutive workdays in China were collected using the experience sampling method (n = 1,024). Path analysis using the Mplus 7.4 was conducted to test the hypotheses.
The results showed that engaging in microbreak activities was associated with improved absorption. Microbreak activities had a positive indirect effect on safety behavior through absorption. Work-related rumination negatively moderated the relationship between microbreak activities and absorption and the indirect relationship between microbreak activities and employees’ safety behaviors via absorption. These relationships are significant only when work-related rumination is lower rather than higher.
This study advances the understanding of the facilitators of safety behavior from the perspective of microbreak activities. It inspires practitioners to manage workplace recovery activities to improve safety behavior.
