Antecedents of Negative Emotions and Intention to Sabotage: Active and Passive Workplace Mistreatments

Workplace mistreatments and aggressions have become pressing issues in today’s multi-generational workplace. Yet, to date, these issues have been widely neglected in the management literature. This study empirically explores the resultant effects of active (i.e., workplace tolerance to incivility) and passive (i.e., workplace ostracism) mistreatment on negative emotion and intention to sabotage by utilizing a generational perspective. Data was collected from bank employees in Nigeria (n=320) and analyzed with the aid of a structural equation modeling. The results revealed that: (1) active and passive workplace mistreatment are relevant factors inflicting negative emotions and intention to sabotage; (2) negative emotion inflicts the intention to sabotage; and (3) negative emotion mediates the relationship between both active and passive workplace mistreatments and intention to sabotage. Furthermore, the impact of passive workplace mistreatment on negative emotion is higher among Gen X and Gen Y cohorts; and its impact on intention to sabotage is higher among baby boomers cohorts. The impact of active workplace mistreatment on negative emotion is higher among Gen Y and baby boomers cohorts; and its impact on intention to sabotage is higher among Gen X and Gen Y cohorts. This study advances our knowledge concerning reactional response of employee from different generation to workplace mistreatments. Based on study’s findings, theoretical and practical implications are identified and discussed. Keywords: Ostracism, Incivility, Negative Emotion, Intention to Sabotage, Generation, Nigeria.