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The Effect of Workplace Negative Gossip on Employee Proactive Behavior in China: The Moderating Role of Traditionality

Author

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  • Xiangfan Wu

    (Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics)

  • Ho Kwong Kwan

    (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)

  • Long-Zeng Wu

    (Xiamen University)

  • Jie Ma

    (Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics)

Abstract

In this study, we examined the relationship between workplace negative gossip, as perceived by the targets, and proactive behavior by focusing on the mediating role of the target’s emotional exhaustion and the moderating role of the target’s traditionality. Our results from dyadic data on 234 supervisor–subordinate relationships in China revealed that (1) workplace negative gossip was negatively related to proactive behavior; (2) emotional exhaustion mediated this relationship; and (3) traditionality strengthened both the relationship between workplace negative gossip and emotional exhaustion and the indirect effect of workplace negative gossip on proactive behavior via emotional exhaustion. Our findings have a number of theoretical and practical implications for the research on mistreatment and proactive behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiangfan Wu & Ho Kwong Kwan & Long-Zeng Wu & Jie Ma, 2018. "The Effect of Workplace Negative Gossip on Employee Proactive Behavior in China: The Moderating Role of Traditionality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(4), pages 801-815, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:148:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-015-3006-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-3006-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bao Cheng & Yun Dong & Zhenduo Zhang & Ahmed Shaalan & Gongxing Guo & Yan Peng, 2022. "When Targets Strike Back: How Negative Workplace Gossip Triggers Political Acts by Employees," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(2), pages 289-302, January.
    2. Xing Zhou & Lele Fan & Cong Cheng & Yancheng Fan, 2021. "When and Why Do Good People Not Do Good Deeds? Third-Party Observers’ Unfavorable Reactions to Negative Workplace Gossip," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(3), pages 599-617, July.
    3. Jafari-Sadeghi, Vahid & Amoozad Mahdiraji, Hannan & Devalle, Alain & Pellicelli, Anna Claudia, 2022. "Somebody is hiding something: Disentangling interpersonal level drivers and consequences of knowledge hiding in international entrepreneurial firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 383-396.
    4. Asghar Afshar Jahanshahi & Bakr Al‐Gamrh, 2024. "Beyond external pressures: How work conditions harm employees' social and environmental responsibilities," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4292-4309, July.
    5. Xiao-Yu Liu & Ho Kwong Kwan & Xiaomeng Zhang, 2020. "Introverts maintain creativity: A resource depletion model of negative workplace gossip," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 325-344, March.
    6. Boqiang Zong & Elena Martinescu & Bianca Beersma & Shiyong Xu & Lihua Zhang, 2024. "How Multi-Source Gossip Affects Targets’ Emotions and Strategic Behavioral Responses," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(2), pages 385-402, January.
    7. Xiaolei Zou & Xiaoxi Chen & Fengling Chen & Chuxin Luo & Hongyan Liu, 2020. "The Influence of Negative Workplace Gossip on Knowledge Sharing: Insight from the Cognitive Dissonance Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Vanessa Begemann & Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock & Maie Stein, 2023. "Peeling Away the Layers of Workplace Gossip: A Framework, Review, and Future Research Agenda to Study Workplace Gossip as a Dynamic and Complex Behavior," Merits, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-21, April.
    9. Bao Cheng & Yan Peng & Ahmed Shaalan & Marwa Tourky, 2023. "The Hidden Costs of Negative Workplace Gossip: Its Effect on Targets’ Behaviors, the Mediating Role of Guanxi Closeness, and the Moderating Effect of Need for Affiliation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 287-302, January.
    10. Yijiao Ye & Hong Zhu & Yuanyi Chen & Ho Kwong Kwan & Yijing Lyu, 2021. "Family ostracism and proactive customer service performance: An explanation from conservation of resources theory," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 645-667, June.
    11. Min (Maggie) Wan & Yejun Zhang & Mingze Li, 2023. "Do narcissistic employees remain silent? Examining the moderating roles of supervisor narcissism and traditionality in China," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(2), pages 715-739, April.
    12. Kim, Andrea & Moon, Jinhee & Shin, Jiseon, 2019. "Justice perceptions, perceived insider status, and gossip at work: A social exchange perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 30-42.

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