Negative relationships in the workplace: a qualitative study

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose this paper is to expand upon existing knowledge of this important topic by providing an expanded inventory of the causes and consequences of having enemies at work.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data were collected from 412 respondents using an internet‐based questionnaire with respondents spanning a wide range of occupations, industries and nationalities. Using a structured methodology for handling a large data sample of qualitative responses, emergent thematic categories are identified and explained by means of verbatim text.FindingsIt was found that several aspects of the work environment directly exacerbated or created negative relationships which, in turn, negatively impacted respondents' experiences of work. Findings illustrate some strongly held employee expectations of behaviour and felt‐obligations defining both formal and informal organisational roles.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings discussed here emanate only from data emphasising negative relationships at work. A study into other relational factors may provide interesting and important points of comparison as well as serving to overcome the inevitable bias towards the negative within this inquiry.Practical implicationsThe conclusions present a number of important challenges to employers and managers for anticipating and dealing with negative co‐worker relationships. Employees seek an equitable and reciprocal relationship with their organisations. An important lesson for management is that workers expect and depend upon their managers to provide support and assistance in overcoming negative workplace relationships.Originality/valueThe data, discussions and conclusions are derived from specific questions which have not previously been expressed in the literatures.

Asymmetric Social Distance Effects in the Ultimatum Game

“…In the existing literature, social distance commonly varies only from players being close relatives or friends to complete strangers, even though negatively-valenced relationships can be important from an economic point of view. For example, literature has stressed their relevance in organizations and the workplace (Labianca and Brass, 2006;Morrison and Nolan, 2007;Laurence et al, 2018;Venkataramani et al, 2013;Parthasarathy and Forlani, 2016), networks (Easley and Kleinberg, 2010), business-to-business relationships (Doney and Cannon, 1997) and consumers' engagement in market-related behavior (Heinonen, 2018).…”

Kıskançlık ile İşten Ayrılma Niyeti Arasındaki İlişkide Örgütsel İmajın Aracı Rolü: Sağlık Çalışanları Üzerine Bir Araştırma

“…al., 2010;Miner and Eischeid, 2012;Pelzer, 2005). A few studies have considered jealousy among these negative emotions (Morrison and Nolan, 2003;Tripp et. al., 2002).…”

I get by with a little help from my friends … at work

“…Whilst relatively little research has focused specifically on friendships in the workplace, a seminal study by Sias & Cahill (1998) traced the development of friendships at work, and Sias et al (2004) went on to examine the causes and consequences of friendship deterioration at work. More recently, there has been research into negative relationships in the workplace and the impact these relationships can have for both individuals and organisations (Bridge & Baxter 1992;Morrison & Nolan 2007a).…”