Do front-line employees in the Chinese commercial banks have the rights to experience psychological well-being?

Purpose By drawing on leader-member exchange theory, this study aims to understand the relationship between job autonomy, transformational leadership and psychological well-being mediated by job satisfaction among front-line employees in Chinese commercial banks. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study which consists of 96 respondents from 5 Chinese commercial banks is conducted. Findings Through data analysis, the results reveal that transformational leadership and job autonomy are significantly positively related to job satisfaction and directly related to the psychological well-being of front-line employees in Chinese commercial banks. Another interesting finding is that there is a mean difference between male and female front-line employees in Chinese commercial banks on the preference of job autonomy and transformational leadership. Originality/value The current study offers further evidence for which strategies Chinese commercial banks should adopt to enhance and protect the rights of front-line employees' psychological well-being. As front-line employees in commercial banks play a vital role in contributing to bank profits and operational efficiency. They are not only the employees for making profits but also have the right to experience the psychological well-being as a human. Employees with a high level of job satisfaction and psychological well-being benefit both their own health and organizational performance in the long run.