I’m broken inside but smiling outside: When does workplace ostracism promote pro-social behavior?

The study aims to investigate the conditions under which workplace ostracism leads to pro-social behavior. Drawing on the temporal need-threat model and the future time perspective, the authors investigated the moderating roles of the need for affiliation and future orientation. They collected data from 704 employees in the Thai hospitality industry. They found that workplace ostracism was positively related to pro-social behavior. The positive link between workplace ostracism and pro-social behavior was separately and jointly moderated by a need for affiliation and future orientation. The positive relationship was strongest for those employees who had a high need for affiliation and high future orientation. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed. The limitations and directions for further research are outlined.