Emboldening Public Servants to Challenge Their Job: The Interplay of Supportive Climate and Job Crafting Amidst Smart Working

The article investigates the implications of a supportive organizational climate on the public servants’ propensity to increase challenging job demands, acknowledging the moderating role of smart working. Leveraging on the broaden-and- build theory together the social exchange theory, public servants are assumed to reciprocate the positive work climate with challenging job demands. Primary data were collected from 238 Italian public servants. People who perceived a supportive work climate were more willing to challenge their job demands. Smart working functioned as a negative moderator. Smart working paves the way for individualization and remotization, which curb positive sensations of the work climate.