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When Employees Speak as They Like: Bad Mouthing in Social Media

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Ivens

    (University of Koblenz-Landau)

  • Mario Schaarschmidt

    (University of Koblenz-Landau)

  • Raoul Könsgen

    (University of Koblenz-Landau)

Abstract

Employee voice can threaten a company’s reputation when employees speak badly about their employer. This research focuses on identifying and quantifying the importance of antecedents of employees’ company-related bad mouthing in social media. Data for this study was collected through a qualitative interview study (N = 33) and a quantitative survey approach (N = 472). The hypothesized model is tested using structural equation modelling. Drawing on social identity theory and using the job demands-resources model as a theoretical lens, we found that job demands are positively associated with turnover intention, which in turn increases company-related bad mouthing in social media of employees. This study employed a cross-sectional survey design, which may be complemented by mono-organizational studies in the future. This study enriches the understanding of employees’ behavior in social media and provides implications for managers such that the strategy of reducing turnover intention is more successful to limit the amount of employees’ bad mouthing than enhancing employees’ commitment. This study is the first which links job demands and job resources with company-related bad mouthing of employees in social media. It proposes and tests antecedence of corporate reputation harming behavior of employees.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Ivens & Mario Schaarschmidt & Raoul Könsgen, 2021. "When Employees Speak as They Like: Bad Mouthing in Social Media," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(1), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:crepre:v:24:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1057_s41299-019-00086-w
    DOI: 10.1057/s41299-019-00086-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Armstrong, J. Scott & Overton, Terry S., 1977. "Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys," MPRA Paper 81694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Raoul Könsgen & Mario Schaarschmidt & Stefan Ivens & Andreas Munzel, 2018. "Finding Meaning in Contradiction on Employee Review Sites — Effects of Discrepant Online Reviews on Job Application Intentions," Post-Print hal-02957523, HAL.
    3. Schaarschmidt, Mario, 2016. "Frontline employees' participation in service innovation implementation: The role of perceived external reputation," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 540-549.
    4. Raoul Könsgen & Mario Schaarschmidt & Stefan Ivens & Andreas Munzel, 2018. "Finding Meaning in Contradiction on Employee Review Sites — Effects of Discrepant Online Reviews on Job Application Intentions," Post-Print halshs-01897830, HAL.
    5. Walsh, Gianfranco & Schaarschmidt, Mario & von Kortzfleisch, Harald, 2016. "Employees' Company Reputation-related Social Media Competence: Scale Development and Validation," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 46-59.
    6. Schwepker, Charles Jr., 2001. "Ethical climate's relationship to job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intention in the salesforce," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 39-52, October.
    7. Parker, Janna M. & Marasi, Shelly & James, Kevin W. & Wall, Alison, 2019. "Should employees be “dooced” for a social media post? The role of social media marketing governance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 1-9.
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    Cited by:

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