Abstract:Based on CAPS, this study constructs a serial mediation effect model between leader humor and bootlegging of knowledge employees from the perspective of emotion and cognition in the hope of unlocking the black box between them. The model has been verified by a survey conducted on a sample of 213 Chinese employees at two time points. Through a series of regression analysis and bootstrapping method, we got several conclusions as follow: (1) leader humor is positively related to knowledge employees’ bootlegging; (2) knowledge employees’ leader liking partially mediates the influence of leader humor on knowledge employees’ bootlegging; (3) knowledge employees’ perceived insider status partially mediates the influence of leader humor on knowledge employees’ bootlegging; (4) knowledge employees’ leader liking and perceived insider status play the serial mediation effect on the relationship between leader humor and knowledge employees’ bootlegging.