This article addresses the important question of why those in paid employment might be hesitant to start their own businesses. In particular, we predict how diminished work-related creativity of employees might mediate the relationship between their perceptions that societal norms do not support initiative taking and their own entrepreneurial intentions. In addition, we consider how risk tolerance and passion for work might buffer this process. Survey data, collected among public-sector employees in the United Arabic Emirates, confirm these predictions with the exception of indications for a buffering role of passion for work. For entrepreneurship stakeholders, this research reveals a critical factor – a diminished propensity to generate new ideas at work – by which employee beliefs about limited normative support for enterprising efforts may escalate into a reluctance to consider an entrepreneurial career. It also identifies how this process can be muted when employees are willing to take risks.

本文解决了一个重要问题，即为什么有薪工作的人可能不愿开自己的企业。尤其是，我们预测员工与工作相关的创造力下降可能会如何介导他们的观念，即社会规范不支持采取​​主动行动与他们自己的创业意图之间的关系。此外，我们考虑了风险承受能力和对工作的热情如何可以缓冲此过程。在阿拉伯联合酋长国的公共部门雇员中收集的调查数据证实了这些预测，但有迹象表明对工作热情有缓冲作用。对于企业家利益相关者，这项研究揭示了一个关键因素–减少了在工作中产生新想法的可能性–员工对积极进取的工作提供有限的规范支持的信念可能会升级为不愿考虑创业的想法。它还确定了当员工愿意承担风险时如何使此过程静音。