HOW PERCEIVED WORKPLACE OSTRACISM HINDERS CREATIVITY: COWORKER ENVY AS A TRIGGER

Abstract

Workplace ostracism is a construct that requires further studies since it potentially affects ostracized individuals’ attitudes and behaviors, yet it is still understudied. The present study aimed to analyze the mechanism of the emergence of workplace ostracism through coworker envy and its effect on employee creativity. Creative process engagement was also used as a mediating variable for the effect of workplace ostracism on creativity. The data were gathered using a self-report questionnaire distributed to employees in the service sector. Out of 592 questionnaires filled out online, 201 met the criteria for further analysis. The result showed that coworker envy significantly and positively affects workplace ostracism. The finding also suggested that workplace ostracism has a negative and significant effect on creative process engagement but has no significant effect on employee creativity. However, this study revealed that creative process engagement fully mediated the negative effect of workplace ostracism on creativity.