The Role of Tie Strength and Multiplex Ties in Employee Well-Being

Abstract: This conceptual paper explores how tie strength and multiplex ties—workplace relationships that span multiple roles—jointly influence employee well-being. Drawing from role theory and cognitive load theory, it proposes an inverted U-shaped relationship: moderate levels of multiplexity foster social support, trust, and resource exchange, enhancing well-being, whereas excessive multiplex ties trigger ambivalence, cognitive overload, and role conflict, leading to diminished well-being. Ambivalence and cognitive overload emerge as key mediating mechanisms, explaining why the same relationships that initially support employees can eventually create emotional strain and burnout. Tie strength moderates these effects, accelerating or delaying the tipping point at which multiplex relationships shift from beneficial to burdensome. By illuminating how relational depth and complexity interact to shape well-being, this framework deepens our understanding of workplace social networks, offering practical insights for organizations seeking to cultivate supportive relationships while avoiding relational overload.

Keywords: multiplex ties, tie strength, employee well-being, role conflict