Tit for tat: burnout as a mediator between workplace incivility and instigated workplace incivility

Title
Tit for tat: burnout as a mediator between workplace incivility and instigated workplace incivility
Publication Date
2018
Author(s)
Loh, Jennifer
Loi, Natasha
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3561-1974
Email: nloi2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nloi2
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Emerald Publishing Limited
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1108/apjba-11-2017-0132
UNE publication id
une:23330
Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of burnout as a mediator in the relationship between workplace incivility (WI) and instigated WI. Design/methodology/approach - A survey of 303 white collar employees from small- to medium-size industries in Australia was conducted. Self-reported measures were used to obtain data on WI, burnout, and instigated WI. Mediation analyses with bootstrap via PROCESS was used ascertain the proposed relationship. Findings - Results indicated that WI was positively linked to instigated WI. Importantly, results indicated that burnout fully mediated the relationship between WI and instigated WI. Research limitations/implications - The correlational and self-report nature of the study exclude inference about causality between variables and may be more prone to bias. However, despite these limitations, pre- and post-cautionary steps were taken to ensure that these biases were kept at bay as much as is possible. Practical implications - The study highlights that burnout may be an important underlying mechanism responsible for target's and perpetrator's uncivil relationships toward each other. Management should be cognizant of possible burnout among employees who experienced WI and to take appropriate training as preventive measures for WI. Originality/value - This study responded to the call for more empirical investigation of WI. This study also integrated conservation of resources and the spiral of incivility theories to develop a theoretical model which linked WI to instigated WI.
Link
Citation
Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, 10(1), p. 100-111
ISSN
1757-4331
1757-4323
Start page
100
End page
111

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