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Positioning Depression as a Critical Factor in Creating a Toxic Workplace Environment for Diminishing Worker Productivity

Author

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  • Samma Faiz Rasool

    (School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

  • Rashid Maqbool

    (Department of Construction Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Madeeha Samma

    (School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

  • Yan Zhao

    (School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

  • Amna Anjum

    (Glorious Sun School of Business and Management, Donghua University Shanghai, Shanghai 200051, China)

Abstract

This study determined how a toxic workplace environment can influence worker productivity, directly and indirectly, using work depression as a mediating variable. A toxic workplace environment with multiple dimensions (harassment, bullying, ostracism, and incivility) was used in this study. We used a questionnaire survey approach to evaluate the data. A total of 53 items were used in the questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. The data were collected from 23 branches of five Chinese banks in the vicinity of Shanghai. The authors distributed 250 questionnaires among targeted employees (senior managers, middle managers, and administrative staff) and received 186 filled questionnaires, among which six were incomplete. Thus, the completed sample size of the research was 180, and the overall response rate was 72%. To estimate the proposed relationships in the research model, we used partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM 3.2). The outcomes of this study indicate that for direct and indirect relationships, a toxic workplace environment negatively influences worker productivity. Moreover, the outcomes of this study also show that work depression negatively impacts worker productivity. The study concludes with a discussion, limitations, and future research directions.

Suggested Citation

  • Samma Faiz Rasool & Rashid Maqbool & Madeeha Samma & Yan Zhao & Amna Anjum, 2019. "Positioning Depression as a Critical Factor in Creating a Toxic Workplace Environment for Diminishing Worker Productivity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:9:p:2589-:d:228438
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    Cited by:

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    5. David. A. L. Coldwell, 2019. "Negative Influences of the 4th Industrial Revolution on the Workplace: Towards a Theoretical Model of Entropic Citizen Behavior in Toxic Organizations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-13, July.
    6. Yoshihiko Kadoya & Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan & Somtip Watanapongvanich & Punjapol Binnagan, 2020. "Emotional Status and Productivity: Evidence from the Special Economic Zone in Laos," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Samma Faiz Rasool & Mansi Wang & Yanping Zhang & Madeeha Samma, 2020. "Sustainable Work Performance: The Roles of Workplace Violence and Occupational Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-12, February.
    8. Rasool, Samma Faiz & Chin, Tachia & Wang, Mansi & Asghar, Ali & Khan, Anwar & Zhou, Li, 2022. "Exploring the role of organizational support, and critical success factors on renewable energy projects of Pakistan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
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    10. Ömer Akgün Tekin & Engin Üngüren & Ayşegül Doğrucan & Sevcan Yıldız, 2023. "How Does Organizational Toxicity Affect Depression? A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-17, February.
    11. Bruna Maria Rondinone & Antonio Valenti & Valeria Boccuni & Erika Cannone & Pierluca Dionisi & Diana Gagliardi & Fabio Boccuni & Sergio Iavicoli, 2021. "Contribution of ICOH to Address the Different OSH Needs among Countries: Results of a Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-13, April.
    12. Mansi Wang & Noman Arshed & Mubbasher Munir & Samma Faiz Rasool & Weiwen Lin, 2021. "Investigation of the STIRPAT model of environmental quality: a case of nonlinear quantile panel data analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 12217-12232, August.
    13. José Ángel Martínez-López & Cristina Lázaro-Pérez & José Gómez-Galán, 2021. "Burnout among Direct-Care Workers in Nursing Homes during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: A Preventive and Educational Focus for Sustainable Workplaces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, March.
    14. Samma Faiz Rasool & Mansi Wang & Minze Tang & Amir Saeed & Javed Iqbal, 2021. "How Toxic Workplace Environment Effects the Employee Engagement: The Mediating Role of Organizational Support and Employee Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-17, February.
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