- Haining Wang: School of Business, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
- Guangzhen Zong: School of Business, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Job performance can be negatively affected by work procrastination, and few studies have been conducted on how work tasks affect procrastination. Based on the Temporal Motivation Theory, this study uses an empirical method to explore the relationship between employees' perceived illegitimate tasks and work procrastination by analyzing the mediating role of negative emotions and the moderating role of paternalistic leadership (authoritative, benevolent, and virtuous leadership). These findings indicate that perceived illegitimate tasks are positively related to work procrastination. Negative emotions mediated the relationship between perceived illegitimate tasks and procrastination. Benevolent leadership negatively moderates the relationship between perceived illegitimate tasks and work procrastination, whereas authoritative and virtuous leadership positively moderate it. The findings of this study enrich research on the mechanisms of action between illegitimate tasks and work procrastination and provide a guide for managers to reduce work procrastination.