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Needs frustration makes me silent: Workplace ostracism and newcomers’ voice behavior

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 January 2018

Wen Wu ,
Yongzheng Qu ,
Yihua Zhang ,
Shengyue Hao ,
Fangcheng Tang ,
Na Zhao  and
Haijian Si
Wen Wu*
Affiliation:
School of Economics & Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
Yongzheng Qu
Affiliation:
School of Economics & Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
Yihua Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
Shengyue Hao
Affiliation:
School of Economics & Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
Fangcheng Tang
Affiliation:
School of Economics & Management, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
Na Zhao
Affiliation:
School of Business, Renmin University, Beijing, China
Haijian Si
Affiliation:
School of Economics & Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
*
Corresponding authors: Shengyue Hao and Fangcheng Tang ([email protected])
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Abstract

Employing self-determination theory, in this study, we explore how workplace ostracism (being ignored and excluded by others) affects newcomer’s voice behavior. Through an empirical study with 353 matched supervisor–subordinate pairs from a large high-technology company, we find that workplace ostracism has negative influence on newcomer’s both promotive and prohibitive voice through the mediating effect of psychological needs satisfaction. In addition, narcissism moderates the effects of ostracism on psychological needs satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords

narcissismpromotive voiceprohibitive voicepsychological needs satisfactionworkplace ostracism
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 25 , Issue 5 , September 2019 , pp. 635 - 652
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2018 

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Footnotes

This paper is supported by Beijing Jiaotong University Talent Funding Project B15RC00130, Beijing Social Science Funding Project B16HZ00150, and China National Science Funding Project 71532003.

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