Raising voice, risking retaliation: Events following interpersonal mistreatment in the workplace.

TLDR

The study interprets its results through theories of power, emotions, and justice in organizations. The authors investigate retaliation victimization among public‑sector employees who vocally resist interpersonal mistreatment, aiming to advance workplace deviance literature. They surveyed 1,167 public‑sector employees to examine work and social retaliation experiences among those who voiced resistance. Regression and discriminant analyses reveal that distinct voice mechanisms elicit varied retaliation forms based on social positions, lower well‑being for further victimized employees, and health costs linked to silent endurance.

Abstract

This study advances the literature on workplace deviance, addressing retaliation victimization in the context of interpersonal mistreatment. Using survey data from 1,167 public-sector employees, the authors investigated experiences of work retaliation victimization and social retaliation victimization among employees who have vocally resisted interpersonal mistreatment. Regression analyses suggest that different victim voice mechanisms trigger different forms of retaliation, depending on the social positions of the mistreatment victim and instigator. Discriminant function analyses demonstrate lower professional, psychological, and physical well-being among mistreated employees who have been further victimized with retaliation. These analyses also reveal health-related costs associated with victim silence--that is, enduring mistreatment without voicing resistance. Results are interpreted in light of theory on power, emotions, and justice in organizations.