The Mediating - Moderating Model of Organizational Cynicism and Workplace Deviant Behavior: (Evidence from Banking Sector in Pakistan)

Abstract

Organizational cynicism and workplace deviant behavior are two major themes in organizational behavior literature. The purpose of this study is thus to investigate whether there is an association between organizational cynicism and workplace deviant behavior and if so, to determine the route of this relationship. Furthermore the influence of burnout as mediating variable and negative affectivity as moderating variable were also explored in the study. We propose that negative affectivity strengthens the relationship between burnout and deviant behavior and that burnout mediates between organizational cynicism and deviant behavior. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire from 332 employees working at different positions in private sector banks from Islamabad/Rawalpindi area of Pakistan. Results from the survey showed that there is a significant positive relationship between organizational cynicism and workplace deviant behavior and the relationship between organizational cynicism and workplace deviant behavior was partially mediated by burnout and negative affectivity moderates the relationship between burnout and workplace deviant behavior. The important limitations of the study are the sample used, which is mainly from the banking sector and from Rawalpindi/Islamabad area. This study contributes to the knowledge on workplace deviance and cynicism an area of research that is almost unexplored in Pakistan. Secondly this study aims to test the relationship which has never been explored before.