Moderating role of intrinsic motivation in managing the consequences of workplace ostracism

Purpose This study aims to investigate the indirect effects of workplace ostracism on service performance and on employees’ procrastination behaviour via job insecurity and the intention to sabotage. It further examines the moderating effect of intrinsic motivation between ostracism and job insecurity and ostracism and intention to sabotage. Design/methodology/approach The empirical data were collected from 256 employees of the hotel industry in metropolitan cities in Uttar Pradesh, India, and for hypothesis testing, SmartPLS was used. Findings Based on the conservation of resources theory, the findings disclose that job insecurity mediates the link concerning ostracism and service performance to some extent, whereas job insecurity and sabotage intent both partially mediate the affirmative linkages between workplace ostracism and procrastinating behaviour. Furthermore, the study also confirms that intrinsic motivation dampens the positive relationship between ostracism and job insecurity and the intention to sabotage. Practical implications To deal with negative work behaviour at the workplace due to ostracism, hospitality establishments may incorporate interpersonal score-based assessment, acknowledge and appreciate intrinsically motivated employees for developing a positive work environment. Apart from this, the learning and development department of the tourism and hospitality industries may introduce “buddy learning” and the “smart buddy” concept to develop a culture of appreciating and accepting colleagues rather than bullying them. Originality/value This study investigated the mediating effect of job insecurity and sabotage intention on the association between ostracism and service performance and ostracism and workplace procrastination behaviour for the first time in the tourism and hospitality literature. Furthermore, it is a unique study that investigated the buffering effect of intrinsic motivation on the linkage concerning ostracism, job insecurity and employees’ sabotage intentions.