THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF WORKPLACE NEGATIVE GOSSIP ON THE TARGET EMPLOYEES
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Abstract
As a category of workplace violence, workplace negative gossip usually has three participants: Gossip senders, gossip receivers and gossip targets. Previous studies conducted on workplace negative gossip have mostly discussed its impact on gossip senders but neglected its impact on target employees. Based on the cognitive-affective personality system theory, this study explores the effects of workplace negative gossip on the helping behaviors of target employees. The results from the questionnaire survey of 237 employees from central China showed that workplace negative gossip has a significantly negative relationship with employees’ helping behavior and employees’ perceived insider status and these negative effects play a mediating role in the relationship between workplace negative gossip and helping behavior. This study has not only enriched the impact of workplace negative gossip and expanded the research perspective but can also help organizations recognize the negative effects of workplace negative gossip and provides some insights into the methods to control workplace negative gossip.
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