For many years, staff members of township governments in China have been facing an excessive workload. The leader-member exchange (LMX) relationship is considered an important factor that may promote burden reduction at the grassroots level. This study developed a scale to measure the perceived burden reduction at the grassroots level through a survey and data analysis of 443 township government staff members in China. Based on social exchange theory and self-determination theory, the research results show that: (1) The perceived burden reduction at the grassroots level consists of two dimensions: perception of workload reduction and perception of motivational care; (2) There is a significant positive correlation between the leader-member exchange relationship and the perceived burden reduction at the grassroots level among township government staff; (3) There is a significant positive correlation between the leader-member exchange relationship and the public service motivation of township government staff, and between public service motivation and the perceived burden reduction at the grassroots level. Public service motivation plays a partial mediating role between the leader-member exchange relationship and the perceived burden reduction at the grassroots level among township government staff; (4) The application of generative artificial intelligence plays a moderating role in the relationship between the leader-member exchange relationship and the public service motivation of township government staff.
