How workplace ostracism can be dangerous

Workplace ostracism occurs when one individual is excluded from his or her coworkers. Previous research has demonstrated that workplace ostracism leads to employees decreasing their organizational citizenship behavior. Newer research by Wu, Liu, Kwan, and Lee (2016) in the Journal of Applied Psychology sought to understand why ostracized employees decrease their organizational citizenship behavior. The researchers found that ostracized employees feel a lower sense of organizational identification–an employee’s feeling of belonging at their organization. Therefore, ostracism can affect attitudes towards the organization, which could impact organizational citizenship behavior.

The researchers also examined the impact of upward mobility–the ability of find employment outside of the employee’s current company because of strong skills or qualifications. They found that when employees have upward mobility, they are more likely to respond to ostracism by feeling like they do not belong in the company. Consequently, they will decrease organizational citizenship behavior. However, employees with less upward mobility feel as if their current company is their only opportunity for employment. Accordingly, they may respond to ostracism by forming a negative assessment of the company. However, since these employees feel stuck, they will make the most of a bad situation and continue to perform organizational citizenship behavior.

Organizations can use this information to improve their work environments. This study demonstrates how ostracism can be toxic for a company. Companies should encourage cooperation and communication. They should especially do these things with employees that are upwardly mobile.