Abstract: Purpose/Significance Future work self-salience is an important motivation resource for employees’ proactive career behaviors. Therefore, the relationship between future work self-salience and employees’ innovative behaviors has attracted academic attention. Design/Methodology This study aims to explore further the correlation mechanism between future work self-salience and employees’ innovative behaviors. Based on the regulatory focus theory, this study proposes a potential mechanism: work promotion focus as a mediator and thriving at work as a moderator. Conclusions/Findings Results indicate that future work self-salience has a positive relationship with employees’ innovative behaviors via work promotion focus. What’s more, employees with a high level of thriving at work can augment the positive association. The theoretical contributions of the study are discussed, and management suggestions to enterprises are put forward, especially on how future work self-salience can be used to guide employees’ innovative behaviors in the workplace.