How supervisor and coworker ostracism influence employee outcomes: the role of organizational dehumanization and organizational embodiment

Brison, Noémie [UCL] Huyghebaert-Zouaghi, Tiphaine [Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, France] Caesens, Gaëtane [UCL]

Purpose This research aims to investigate the mediating role of organizational dehumanization in the relationships between supervisor/coworker ostracism and employee outcomes (i.e., increased physical strains, decreased work engagement, increased turnover intentions). Moreover, this research explores the moderating role of supervisor’s organizational embodiment and coworkers’ organizational embodiment in these indirect relationships. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study (N = 625) surveying employees from various organizations while using online questionnaires was conducted. Findings Results highlighted that, when considered together, both supervisor ostracism and coworker ostracism are positively related to organizational dehumanization, which, in turn, detrimentally influences employees’ well-being (increased physical strains), attitudes (decreased work engagement) and behaviors (increased turnover intentions). Results further indicated that the indirect effects of supervisor ostracism on outcomes via organizational dehumanization were stronger when the supervisor was perceived as highly representative of the organization. However, the interactive effect between coworker ostracism and coworkers’ organizational embodiment on organizational dehumanization was not significant. Originality/value This research adds to theory by highlighting how and when supervisor and coworker ostracism relate to undesirable consequences for both employees and organizations. On top of simultaneously considering two sources of workplace ostracism (supervisor/coworkers), this research adds to extant literature by examining one underlying mechanism (i.e., organizational dehumanization) explaining their deleterious influence on outcomes. It further examines the circumstances (i.e., high organizational embodiment) in which victims of supervisor/coworker ostracism particularly rely on this experience to form organizational dehumanization perceptions.