Why do some followers remain silent in response to abusive supervision? A system justification perspective


METİN CAMGÖZ S., BAYHAN KARAPINAR P., TAYFUR EKMEKCİ Ö., Metin Orta I., Ozbilgin M. F.

European Management Journal, 2023 (SSCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.emj.2023.07.001
  • Dergi Adı: European Management Journal
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, ABI/INFORM, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Index Islamicus, PAIS International, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, DIALNET
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Abusive supervision, Occupational class, Silence, System justification motive, Voice
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study investigates how the system justification motive manifests in employees’ voice/silence behavior at the workplace. It also explores the moderating effects of system justification on the linkage between abusive supervision and voice/silence behavior for blue- and white-collar employees. The field study generated responses from 905 employees in Turkey. Multi-group analysis reveals that the moderating effect of system justification motives varies by occupational class. In particular, the impact of abusive supervision on silence becomes more salient when white-collar employees endorse higher system justification motives. However, in the blue-collar sample, the absence of a moderating effect could be attributed to the strong main effect of system justification motives. The current study adds to the extant literature by applying a system justification perspective to voice and silence behavior by collar differences at work. It also provides important implications for managers in dealing with workplace mistreatment affecting all occupational groups, mainly when blue-collar employee silence is endemic and regulatory policies are inadequate.