Testing the Process of Coworker Incivility to Work Withdrawal Behavior: The Moderated Mediation Effects of Employee Resilience in Achieving Organizational Sustainability

Abstract

Drawing on the implantation of organizational sustainable strategies, enterprises can effectively manage and recycle resources, reduce resource waste, improve market competitiveness, better respond to changes in the market and environment, and create long-term economic benefits. Although a large number of prior studies have emphasized the importance of improving sustainability and proposed various strategies and practical approaches, relatively few studies have explored the inhibitors of sustainability. Against such a research background, this study differs from previous research that has simply focused on ways to increase sustainability; we instead explore negative variables that reduce sustainability. We assess the variable that reduces organizational sustainability, that is, work withdrawal behavior that reduces employees’ enthusiasm for their jobs, hinders employee performance, causes financial losses, and limits organizational growth and sustainability. This directly affects the organization’s long-term growth and sustainability goals and damages the organization’s overall sustainability image. Therefore, understanding the reasons behind this behavior is important. This study examines how coworker incivility leads to work withdrawal behavior and validates relevant research models. Data from 294 Chinese SME employees show that coworker incivility positively affects workplace loneliness and work withdrawal behavior. Workplace loneliness mediates the impact of coworker incivility on work withdrawal behavior, while resilience negatively moderates these relationships. Based on these findings, this study offers recommendations for reducing work withdrawal behavior and improving workplace environments and employee mental health.