Can Perceptions of Fairness Buffer the Negative Effects of Workplace Ostracism?

This study focuses on the importance of the social context within organizations and investigated workplace ostracism, perceptions of fairness, organizational citizenship behavior, deviant behavior, and in-role behavior. Although there are a few studies on the consequences of workplace ostracism, research has yet to include boundary conditions for the effects of workplace ostracism with its behavioral outcomes. The study sampled 246 employees in two waves and the study found workplace ostracism to be negatively related with organizational citizenship behavior and in-role behavior while being positively related with workplace deviant behavior. Moreover, perceptions of fairness was found to significantly moderate the relationships between workplace ostracism with organizational citizenship behavior and workplace deviant behavior. Therefore, this study suggests that workplace ostracism leads to unfavorable workplace behaviors and that fairness perceptions can mitigate the negative effects of workplace ostracism on its behavioral outcomes.