The Hidden Psychological Costs of Workplace Incivility: The Mediating Role of Job Embeddedness in Employee Performance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52053/jpap.v7i1.476Keywords:
Employee Job Performance, Job Embeddedness, Workplace IncivilityAbstract
This study investigates the impact of workplace incivility on employee job performance, with a particular focus on the mediating role of job embeddedness. Grounded in Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, a quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed. Data were collected from 412 employees working across the service sector, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and corporate firms in Pakistan using structured questionnaires and validated measurement scales. Statistical analyses, including correlation, regression, and mediation analysis (using PROCESS Macro/SEM), were conducted to examine the proposed relationships. The results revealed that workplace incivility has a significant negative effect on employee job performance. Additionally, workplace incivility was found to be negatively associated with job embeddedness, while job embeddedness showed a significant positive relationship with employee job performance. Regression analysis confirmed that workplace incivility is a significant predictor of both job embeddedness and employee performance. Furthermore, mediation analysis demonstrated that job embeddedness partially mediates the relationship between workplace incivility and employee job performance. These findings indicate that workplace incivility not only directly reduces employee performance but also indirectly affects it by weakening employees’ attachment to their organization. Conducted within the collectivist cultural context of Pakistan, the results provide valuable insights into how negative interpersonal behaviours in the workplace can undermine both psychological attachment and performance outcomes. The study highlights the importance of fostering a respectful work environment to sustain employee engagement and productivity.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mahnoor Ijaz, Haleema Saadia Khan
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