My Manager Endorsed My Coworkers' Voice: Understanding Observers' Positive and Negative Reactions to Managerial Endorsement of Coworker Voice

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Poulton, Emily C.; Lin, Szu-Han (Joanna); Fatimah, Shereen; Ho, Cony M.; Ferris, D. Lance; Johnson, Russell E.
• 署名单位: Indiana University System; IU Kelley School of Business; Indiana University Indianapolis; University System of Georgia; University of Georgia; Singapore Management University; Northern Arizona University; University of Ottawa; Michigan State University; Michigan State University's Broad College of Business; University System of Georgia; University of Georgia
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/apl0001180
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: 1250-1270
• 关键词: voice; voice endorsement; third-party reactions; approach-avoidance framework

摘要

Research on managerial voice endorsement has primarily focused on the processes and conditions through which voicers receive their managers' endorsement. We shift this focus away from the voicers, focusing instead on the dual reactions that endorsement generates for observing employees. Drawing from an approach-avoidance framework, we propose that managerial endorsement of coworker voice could be perceived as a positive and negative stimulus for observers, prompting them to approach opportunities and avoid threats, respectively. Results from a preregistered experiment and a multiwave, multisource field study revealed that managerial endorsement of coworker voice was positively related to observers' voice instrumentality, thus prompting them to engage in approach behaviors (i.e., voice). We also found that managerial endorsement of coworker voice was positively related to observers' voice threat, triggering avoidant behaviors (i.e., avoidance-oriented counterproductive work behaviors). Further, we found that the avoidant reactions more pronounced for observers with higher (vs. lower) neuroticism. Overall, our research extends theory by demonstrating the rippling effects that voice endorsement can ignite throughout the workgroup.